St. Augustine Beach and adjacent Anastasia State Park are great places to see shore birds.
On a recent sunrise visit, I came across a large group of terns, Royal and Forester’s, mixing in with a group of adult and juvenile Ring-billed Gulls. And Black Skimmers, of course.
The terns, and others in their family, nest regularly along the beach in St. Augustine. I’m looking forward to go back and hopefully seeing some of the new generation of these birds later in the year.
Ring-billed Gull, St. Augustine Beach, January 2026.Royal Tern, St. Augustine Beach, January 2026.Royal Tern and Forster’s Tern, St. Augustine Beach, January 2026.Forster’s Tern, St. Augustine Beach, January 2026. Royal Tern, St. Augustine Beach, January 2026. Banded Royal Tern, St. Augustine Beach, January 2026.Royal Tern, St. Augustine Beach, January 2026.Royal Tern and Ring-billed Gulls, St. Augustine Beach, January 2026.Royal Terns, St. Augustine Beach, January 2026.Ring-billed Gull, St. Augustine Beach, January 2026.Royal Terns, St. Augustine Beach, January 2026.Royal Tern, St. Augustine Beach, January 2026.Royal Terns with Ring-billed Gulls, St. Augustine Beach, January 2026.