photoartflightCommon Terns At Brigantine
Posted on May 24, 2022
I usually do not photograph some of the smaller birds I see at Wildlife Refuges. Usually they are far off in the distance or are very skittish and fly off. On this trip to the Brigantine Division of the Edwin B. Forsythe NWR these Common Terns were more cooperative. All images here were taken with a Canon 400mm DO lens with a 2X Teleconverter on a Canon 1DmkIV. The last image in the series was actually a panorama shot as it was flying right at me and I wanted to get the right wingtip in also. So I quickly shot a series of images hoping to get the right wingtip in also for my final pano image.
Common Tern Hovering Before Dive
Posted on July 1, 2014
This Common Tern was working this area for food in front of us. It turned head on to us and was flapping away before diving into the water to catch a fish. I liked the angle because it was head on to us instead of the usual side view. It still worked the area for a while, diving and hovering. Then moved down the waterway away from us.
Common Tern After Dive with Fish, Still Showing Splash from Dive and Flying Out of the Water. I tried to get as much of the water ripple while still showing the Tern. Canon 1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon Series III 1.4X Teleconverter, f/8, 1/2000 sec, ISO 400
Mating Common Terns
Posted on June 18, 2014
We came across a pair of mating Common Terns on the Beach. We could get fairly close, but did not want to disturb them. A third bird flew in and chased off the male. In the protected roped off area there were many Common Terns mating and building/digging nests.
Mating Terns. Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon i.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/8, 1/1000, ISO 400
Mating Terns. Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon i.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/5.6, 1/2500, exp. comp. -0.33, ISO 400
Mating Terns. Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon i.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/5.6, 1/2500, exp. comp. -0.33, ISO 400
Threes a Crowd. Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon i.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO 400,
Black Skimmers – In Flight Fighting
Posted on June 2, 2014
A friend invited me to go to Nickerson Beach in Long Island, which is known for large groups of nesting Common Terns, Black Skimmers and Oystercatchers and I was not disappointed. Also has a large group of Laughing Gulls (the Gulls with black heads). There are 2 main roped off areas for the nesting birds and we went to the one on the left. The birds are also active on the sand dunes, beach and in the rough surf. There was plenty of photo opportunities in all locations with a lot activity and at this time we saw quite a few Oystercatcher chicks. There were also many mating Common Terns. It is best to get there early for the best time to photograph the birds when it is not crowded and the birds are active. For detail shots of the birds nesting on the ground, bring your longest lens. It is fun to see and photograph the Black Skimmers and Common Terns fishing in the rough surf. Birds in flight photography is pretty much non stop all the while I was there. I have a large amount of images to go through, almost 3,000 files, but here is 1 image to start. I will post a full series of the fighting images tomorrow to show illustrate the story. Thanks again Bun for taking me along!
photoartflight 