Least Tern

Description:

Small tern. During breeding, black cap ending at white forehead. Short white eyestripe. Bill yellow with black tip. Back light gray. Underside white. Black leading edge to wing. In nonbreeding plumage has black eyestripe extending to back of head, white top of head, and black bill.

Habitat:

Seacoasts, beaches, bays, estuaries, lagoons, lakes and rivers, breeding on sandy or gravelly beaches and banks of rivers or lakes.

Notes:

Another sad sight. When I first uploaded the photo I thought there was an artifact in the image. But when I looked closely I saw that it is a piece of a fishing line or string caught in its wing and leg. Unfortunately, wildlife getting tangled in fishing line is all too common. Just 2 days ago the Coast Guard freed a large sea turtle that was tangled in fishing line off the coast of Montauk.