Well I Guess These Terned Out OK
Earlier this week I was watching Forster’s Terns fishing in the salt marsh. These birds are likely the most challenging subject I photograph. Forster’s Terns fly EXTREMELY fast! They will occasionally hover over a spot searching for a fish but then go into a very rapid headfirst dive if they see one. They also jet around in random zig zag patterns which can easily make my head spin trying to follow them and hopefully get one in the frame and in focus. I am constantly switching back and forth between finding one in the air with my own eyes, then trying to reacquire it in the camera, then trying to keep up with it as it zips along, then attempting to take the picture at the right moment and…well you get the idea. It can indeed be frustrating but also can be rewarding if I ever do succeed in catching one in action and especially with a fish in it’s mouth as the real bonus!
Other then their super fast flying style they are quite pretty and interesting birds. Notice their long forked tails and the silver/grey ‘frosting’ on their wings. They also frequently fly with their head’s pointed down toward the water, always in search of a meal. As opposed to gulls, these terns do not linger or swim in the water, it’s a quick in and a quick out then back to work in the air!
This is so much more than ok Phil, these are beautiful captures of the Foster tern. 🙂
Well thanks very much Jan, I very happy you enjoyed these!
If anyone could capture this action, it would be you! And, my oh my, what an outstanding job you did!!!
Thank you much Molly, I really appreciate your kind comments!
Brilliant shots, Phil. You sure made it look easy to capture these!
Thank you Gracie! I tell you I spent about half an hour with these guys and my head was spinning by the time I was done.
You are amazing. I feel like I am watching it happen.
Hey thanks Beverly! So glad you like these tern pics!
Wow. That are fantastic shots of this fishing bird. Congrats, Phil.
Thanks very much I appreciate you looking and commenting!
Beautiful shots, Phil.
Thanks much Mike, appreciate it. 🙂
Amazing shots, especially the last one.
Thanks a lot! So glad you liked that last one I almost didn’t include it.
Apparently there is nothing too fast for you. Well done.
Well these guys pushed my limits for sure. It quickly got to be rather humbling when I decided I was going to concentrate on these terns and after just a bit of shooting I realized I would have to be prepared to quite possibly come back with nothing.
Thanks for checking them out!
Utterly stunning work. The tail reminds me of swallow tails (in the fish shot)… also near impossible to catch because of the swift darting here and there.
ps… nice pun in the title, but way beyond OK
Thank you, glad you enjoyed that title. 😀
Thanks a bunch for your very kind words Gunta!
It’s wonderful, what beautiful animals you’ll see again and again, and publish here. Really great! ☺
I am very happy you enjoy the photos, thanks!
What luck for us you got so many terrific captures! Thrilling action shots and so good to see the bird’s success. 🙂
I honestly didn’t know if I was going to come back with anything. These guys are just so fast they had my head spinning for the entire time.
Thanks very much for looking and your kind comments!
You must be the fastest photographer on the planet! I would never have any idea these birds were so quick by the photos if you hadn’t pointed it out. Love!
I quite likely looked like a crazy person out there whipping the camera around as these guys zipped past. Actually now that I think of it one person did look like he intentionally walked around me. 😯 humm… 🙂
Probably didn’t want a black eye – or elbow- or shin – or whatever body part was closest to you and your camera whipping!
Maybe he *somehow* got the impression that if he got in my way I would shove him into the marsh.
But what would be the big deal if I did? There were no alligators there at the time. At least I don’t think there were.
That’s actually a very clever way to find out if there are alligators. Push the annoying bystander, who got way too close to you into the marsh.
You oughta see me around tourist season.
Beautiful set Phil! Love the blue in the sky with the well exposed bird……difficult to get both! You are da man!
Thanks a million Ricky! Along with the fast movement of the birds the lighting was changing continuously as the sun went in and out and the birds moved location. With me shooting in full Manual mode I had to change settings on the fly so to speak. 🙂
Absolutely fantastic shots!! I bow down to you oh king of nature photography :).
Oh gee 😳 well I really appreciate your very kind comments! Thanks and glad you like these!
Yup I’d say they terned out more then ok!
Thanks a bunch Edith, glad you liked how they terned out. 🙂
Great phot0, great information.
Thanks Charlie, so glad you liked this post.
Watching terns in Cornwall, trying to catch them with binoculars is hard enough, but these pictures……….incredible! Respect, Phil!
I truly appreciate your kind words Maggie and I’m happy you like these tern pics!
Much more than OK. These are great as usual.
Thank you very much Judy! 🙂
Those are great pics, Phil! They “terned” out much better than o.k. ;o) I don’t know if I’ve ever seen these birds (other than in your photos). Do they tend to dive down for the fish or do a little skimming? The last photo gives me the impression they make quite a splash.
Very nice set indeed!
Take care,
Mick
I’m so embarrassed, now. The pix were so amazing, that I forgot to read the description. Looks like you’ve already answered my question. ;o)
Oh no need to feel embarrassed Mickey, but yes indeed these guys are divers and I don’t see them using the skim and snatch technique. They really hit the water quite fast and lucky for them they know when the tide is at the right depth. Hitting the water like that with too low a tide could cause a headache I’m thinking. 🙂
Thanks so much for checking these out and commenting!
Wow! So impressive–the photography as well as the amazing success the terns have catching fish !
Well I’m happy you enjoy the photos but these birds are the real stars out there, doing what they do at super high speeds!
Wow beautiful! Great sharpness! Awesome.
Thanks a million Rick, I’m very happy you enjoyed these tern photos!
That’s one heck of a catch, Phil! Those are difficult to photograph
Thank you Gareth, yes they can be a challenge. I have practically given up before but tried to stick with it a bit this time.
Astonishing shots, Phil. I have photographed terns over the years and they are extremely difficult. I get the occasional winner but not in a sequence like these. I have tern envy!
Thank you so much Andrew, I’m thrilled you like these tern shots! I’m sure you get some that tern out just fine as well!
The result was certainly fantastic. 🙂 This serious really makes me smile. I have felt that same frustration but without the marvelous result.
Thanks very much, I’m glad you liked the results. I almost gave up on them but stuck with it this time. 🙂
I know we have terns, and I just discovered we have these terns as a permanent resident. Now I’m going to have to sort out which ones I’m watching as I work. I’m sure some of them are Least Terns – but the larger ones might be these Forster’s.
Ok. I have to ask. Did you hear about the Mama Tern who was really upset with her boy? He’d fallen in love with a seagull. She was a very nice seagull, but still – Mama wished her boy would stick to his species. As she told him, “One good tern deserves another”.
😉
We normally see the Forster’s, Least, and Royal here along the SC coast. I’m not that checked out on the shore birds as I am the large waders, so many look alike it’s hard to tell especially on the peeps. 🙂
Funny joke! 😀
Terns out you’re a terrific photographer!
I appreciate your comment thanks! 😀
A real testament to your skills as a photographer Phil and for that, I’ll forgive the pun. 😉 Superb series. 🙂
Thanks a bunch Adrian, I couldn’t help that with the title. 🙂 I have a photo of a tern flying and it must have been shaking off water but it looks like it’s flying with it’s wings down and head facing up. I called that one “Ternover” 🙂
very elegant birds
They are quite elegant and fast flyers too.
I won’t forgive the pun–I’ll celebrate it. Even more than that, though, I’ll celebrate your amazing photos. Sometimes when I see photos that I really like, I think about what it would take for me to get similar results. In this case, however, I don’t have a clue where I would start. The subject is so small and so fast that it seems an impossible task to get it in focus fast and accurately, but your photos are proof that you did it.
Well I’m glad you enjoyed the title and the photos Mike! One other challenge facing me when I took these was that I was using full manual exposure for all pics and the lighting and the location of the birds was constantly changing which required me to change settings on the fly so to speak.
I truly appreciate you looking and your very kind comments.
Having spent time in the Pacific, just the word tern is evocative for me!! These are just gorgeous of your salt marsh terns. I liked the pun!! Made me smile before I even clicked on the post.
Thank you Judy, I’m very happy you enjoyed the title and the photos! These are fun birds to watch and (sometimes) fun to photograph!
Well I think the Fairy Terns ( I think that is what they were) were about the first bird pics I took with my first digital camera. So, everything was hard. Anhingas for a long time were difficult because they move so continuously and if not continuously..abruptly. And, when sunning I found them shy on the approach. I have a lot of respect for your flying bird images of all kinds and am keen on trying to do better with my attempts at it!! I still have moments of amazement that we have creatures which can fly on this planet.
Amazing, you captured some beautiful and sharp pictures! Impressive. I know how hard it can be…
I greatly appreciate you looking and your very kind words and I’m glad you understand how photographing these fast flyers can be hard. 🙂
I think this is one of my favorite posts of yours! I absolutely love the colors and the elegance it possess…. just beautiful!
I’m so glad you like these tern photos! They are amazing birds for sure!
Stunning shots, Phil. They were fast, but you were faster. 🙂
Thank you very much Sylvia, so glad you enjoyed these! I tried to keep up with them as best I could, and they gave me a workout for sure!
Wow, excellent! These guys are awesomely difficult to snap. It’s hysterical seeing photogs trying to do so, as they whip by… Usually accompanied by much cursing. 🙂
I suspect I may have let out an expletive or two as I was trying to follow these super fast flyers. 😀
Thanks very much, glad you liked these!
WOW WOW WOW…all I can say is WOW !! I know how hard this is and you not got only ONE perfect in focus, perfect lighting, fantastic pose, no bird butt shot. You are fabulous !
Well I greatly appreciate your very kind words Emily and I’m thrilled you enjoyed these tern pics! I had to work at this one a bit and although I have seen some again I’ll probably leave them alone for a while now.
And oh yes, it is definitely a No Butt Shots zone out there. 🙂
wow WoW WOW!!! If only I could get shots like these, I would be ecstatic!
Those shots are just amazing!
Wow thanks so much I am really happy you enjoyed these tern photos and appreciate the kind words!
Fantastic sequence, Phil.
Thanks much Conor, I appreciate it!
Wow, these are FABULOUS images, Phil! Well done! And what an interesting bird.
Thanks very much Laurie, so glad you liked these photos!
These really are fantastic! Thanks for sharing and leaving me a comment so I could find your amazing photos! BW
Thanks much for the kind words BW, I appreciate it! I try to update my blog every day so there is often something new to see. 🙂