Beach Nesting Bird Survey: Ft Desoto County Park, East Beach

5-17-18

Royal Terns: They feed primarily on fish rather than crabs, more than any other tern.

Great size comparison:  Royal Terns (Largest- Orange bill), Sandwich Tern (Black bill with yellow tip), Forster’s Tern (All black bill and red legs)

Adult male Ruddy Turnstone in breeding plumage

As their name suggests, turnstones often forage by turning over stones, horseshoe crabs, beach debris, etc

Osprey pair preening

Different pairs construct different sized nests in similar locations