On Monday, I had a large white tern go up river on the far side of the lake. In the rain, I just could not get any details but told others that I thought it had the wrong wing cadence and gizz for a Caspian Tern. On Tuesday, Mike Todd, Don Manning, Joe Guinn and I were at Dry Creek Road in TN, south of Pickwick Dam, when I picked up a bird flying toward us that had that same flight characteristic I had seen the day before. We had a Caspian Tern flying around the area shortly before and I got everyone on this new bird as it came closer. I finally noted the white forehead and told everyone to get ready. Through our scopes, we witnessed a Royal Tern flying by us into the wind. With everyone's input I made the above field card. Here are the notes again from top to bottom:

Royal Tern - 7/12/05 - Pickwick, TN - Large yellow-orange bill - White forecrown, black behind eye and nape - underwing white, lt. (light) gray tips - upper wing limited dark at primaries - Large/ slow wing beat - w/ Forster's Terns (signed) J. R. Wilson, Mike Todd, Don Manning , Joe Guinn