The first place I went bird‑watching after arriving in the U.S. last year was Dumbarton Bridge. It was a great spot for watching terns, but afterward my visits were less productive. Since terns seemed likely this time, I walked the area again for the first time in a while.
Almost immediately a Forster’s Tern appeared, flying surprisingly close.Just as I thought this would be rewarding to watch, its behavior changed—it flew straight toward me, turned nearby, then headed back. Apparently it was warning me off.Looking where the tern had lifted off, I saw several active nests. One bird kept its eye on me. Even with 50–100 meters of water between us, they were highly alert.One carried a fish away. Although they dove often, their success rate seemed low; Ospreys appear to have better aim.A tern hovered in place.This time it successfully caught a fish.A group of American White Pelicans glided past—common even in city parks. Brown Pelicans are more coastal and seldom seen inland.Skimming just above the water came a large tern, the Black Skimmer, probing the surface with its distinctive stepped bill.Perhaps some lazy tern once decided that dragging its bill through the water while in flight was easier than diving each time; I wonder how many generations it took to evolve into such a form.At the foot of Dumbarton Bridge, Cliff Swallows were busy building their nests.
