July 3, 2026: A Common Tern glides effortlessly above Buzzards Bay, scanning the water below. After a brief hover,
it plunges headfirst with remarkable precision to capture small fish, making countless feeding trips
each day to support hungry chicks.
Common Terns are among the most graceful and accomplished aerial hunters found along the shores of Buzzards Bay each summer. With long, slender wings, a deeply forked tail, and remarkable agility, they seem to float effortlessly above the water while constantly scanning below for schools of small fish. This elegant adult, photographed in flight, perfectly captures the streamlined form and focused attention that make the species such an efficient predator.

When prey is spotted, a Common Tern often slows into a brief hover, beating its wings rapidly while carefully judging the fish’s position beneath the surface. In an instant, it folds its wings and plunges headfirst into the bay, emerging moments later with a silverside or other small fish held securely in its bright red bill. The entire sequence lasts only seconds but is repeated countless times throughout the day.

July is an especially demanding time, as adults work tirelessly to provide food for hungry chicks waiting nearby on sandy beaches and shell-strewn nesting colonies. Their endless feeding flights, remarkable flying skills, and unwavering devotion to raising the next generation make Common Terns one of the most captivating sights along the Falmouth shoreline each summer.