Inca Tern in Coiba, a report by Kees Groenendijk

A quick e-mail to report a sighting of an Inca Tern (Larosterna inca) on Coiba. The exact location was the sand bank in the mouth of the Rio San Juan, about 500 m. north of the entrance to the Sendero Los Pozos. THe dat is 4 June 2014 at about 10.45 am. 

The tern was resting on the sand bank among a flock of about 50 black terns, 4 common terns and 2 Royal terns. When the whole flock flew up briefly, I first noticed the odd-looking tern as it flew away. It was obviously larger than the black terns and had had a black back and black wings with a white edge at the end. I kept the bird in view, noting dark underparts and a fairly strong red bill. When it landed again, I saw the white 'whiskers' and realised that I was looking at an Inca tern.