Feb
28
Royal Terns
Filed Under Terns, Winter 2010
I looked back at the Royal Tern colony that I shot last June. Here are two that make me look forward to seeing them again soon.
Archive for the ‘Terns’ Category
Nov
18
Hunting Forster’s
This Forster’s Tern was locked in on its prey. I’m glad they are not bigger than me.
Jul
13
Landing Gear Down
Filed Under Summer 2009, Terns
I visited the Royal Tern colony again last night. The chicks are getting bigger and they demand near constant feeding. Here are a few parents bringing in fish and landing in the the thick of the colony, wings fixed and landing gear extended.
Jun
18
An Evening With the Royals
Filed Under Shorebirds, Spring 2009, Terns
A second evening with the Royal Terns produced pretty good results.
Jun
13
Royal Terns
Filed Under Spring 2009, Terns
Royal Terns are nesting now. This colony is working cooperatively to protect eggs from predators and taking turns fishing.
Apr
17
Forster’s Terns
Filed Under Spring 2009, Terns
I love watching terns. They are beautiful birds and great fishers. They are also very quick in their flight patterns and so, difficult to photograph. Here are three Forster’s Terns fishing a couple of mornings ago.
Oct
2
The Terns Turn to be Dinner
I found some Forster’s Terns feeding just before sunset tonight. I shot them for about ten minutes. They were so obsessed with their easy pickings that they let me get reasonably close. The 600 mm lense let me fill the frame from where I stood. Suddenly they darted from dinner and a few seconds later a hawk came zooming after them. They had seen it coming and fled seconds before the raptor arrived. The hawk pursued the flock and managed to isolate one tern from the group and the chase was on. I watched the diving, soaring evasion and pursuit for several minutes as it covered a wide area of open sky over the marsh. It culminated in the distance with the hawk gettting dinner at the expense of the tern. Predator turns into prey, the tern went from dining on fish to being the main course for the hawk. It was very cool to watch.
