White-winged Tern at Lake Nessmuk

The white-winged tern discovered at Lake Nessmuk just south of Wellsboro PA on Rte 287 Thursday morning  (August 10) by Rich Hanlon and ID'ed by Kathy Riley continued to provide excellent viewing opportunities for numerous birders all day Friday. Rich was able to take some great photos at the time, which resulted in the ID being confirmed rapidly by the ABA. The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology followed suit after sending a team down late Thursday afternoon to see the bird first hand. This sighting of a white-winged tern is the first for Pennsylvania ever and the first in North America this year. There is plenty of parking, and so far visitor counts have not been uncomfortably high as often occurs where sightings take place closer to large cities.

The tern was very quiet most of Friday, changing perches on pilings from time to time, but mostly sitting still. The bird has been very tolerant of visitors, who have for the most part been very polite and considerate of the bird and each other. Hopefully this will continue for as long as the bird is visiting us. Many eBird reports are being filed every day, so it is very easy to get information on the current situation.

White-winged Tern at Lake Nessmuk, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania

Birders getting a good view of the currently rarest bird in America.