Posted by Don Roberson (165.227.228.223) on July 14, 2000 at 08:05:09:
Oh, joy, another chance to be wrong. I agree with Daisy that the oriole shows the basic shape of Hooded (longish & comparatively thin bill, longish tail) and the body coloration seems appropriate. Will also further admit to being weak on orioles. I rely on AJ for icterids...
As to the tern, it appears to be in juvenal plumage (subtle subterminal pattern to tertials, coverts) and looks fresh, as in a mid-to-late summer bird. The extensively black cap/nape should eliminate Forster's (I think even fresh juvs have only auricular patches) and the apparent small size plus the fact it is taken in California bring this to Common/Arctic. Its a bit hard to see the legs, but they don't look dramatically short (like Arctic) nor does the bill look particularly dainty. So I'll go with juv Common. I think bill color is consistent with that choice. Unless, of course, this is last summer's hybrid Forster's X Arctic from Hayward. Joe is tricky enough to do that....