Is this a tern or a gull?

[Maestro]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/finish_line-1.jpg

There were a ton of gulls when I shot this, but I think this is a tern. Am I correct or is the pic from too far away?

[planobirder]

Hi Maestro, this appears to be a Bonaparte's Gull in winter plumage, the thin black bill and the black auricular(ear) patch are the field marks. thats probably why you thought it was a tern. what is that giant thing behind it? is that a buoy? in curiousity, where did you see all the gulls?

[betsy]

Did you shoot this bird locally, Maestro? I think it's a Bonaparte's Gull in non-breeding plumage. These are small, tern-like gulls which winter in the area. They have light, buoyant flight patterns more like terns than most gulls, which can be confusing. You often see them skimming low over the surfaces of lakes, dipping down to grab a small fish from the surface.

[Maestro]

Hi Maestro, this appears to be a Bonaparte's Gull in winter plumage, the thin black bill and the black auricular(ear) patch are the field marks. thats probably why you thought it was a tern. what is that giant thing behind it? is that a buoy? in curiousity, where did you see all the gulls?

This was at Lake Buchanan in the Hill Country outside of Burnett, Texas. It was the same day I took the picture of the eagles down there. I think that is a buoy. The lake is about 25 feet below normal levels so there are a bunch of buoys marking deep enough waters in which to navigate.

Thanks for the ID.

[Maestro]

Did you shoot this bird locally, Maestro? I think it's a Bonaparte's Gull in non-breeding plumage. These are small, tern-like gulls which winter in the area. They have light, buoyant flight patterns more like terns than most gulls, which can be confusing. You often see them skimming low over the surfaces of lakes, dipping down to grab a small fish from the surface.

No, I didn't take it locally. It was on Lake Buchanan. The weather was so bad and eagles so far away on the lake that I began to take a bunch of pictures of gulls. They were mostly ring-bill gulls, but I did see a few terns and now it looks like a Bonaparte's Gull.

I also captured a quick picture of this osprey the same day.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/ospry3_sharpened.jpg