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Least Terns
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Least Terns

by David Sparks

Gallery: AvianPosted July 16, 2010149 views19 comments
D300, 500mm f/4 + 1.7x tc, travel pillow on car window
ISO 200, 1/1000 sec at f/8
Photo taken June 21, 2010 at Ft. Pickens National Seashore.
The chick and unhatched egg are left exposed when the adult takes flight to protest the Black Terns flying over the nesting area. The small black objects are not tar balls from the current BP oil spill but small chunks of asphalt from the road that was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
Cropped to 76% of full frame to provide better visibility of the small chick and egg.
Comments and suggestions most welcome.

Comments

19 comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on July 16, 2010 at 11:04 AM
Daivd, love the wingspread in this. It took me a minute to spot the chick and egg (loked before reading your post) because they blend in so well in their environment. Very nice capture!
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on July 16, 2010 at 11:58 AM
I really like the action and the view of the adult, chick and egg.

- Luke
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 16, 2010 at 1:20 PM
Beautiful, David. Great pose in the adult and an excellent angle and light. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on July 16, 2010 at 3:35 PM
David love the composition and the exposure looks spot on! Congrats! :toast:
Registered on January 15, 2010, 101 Posts, 396 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Saunders on July 16, 2010 at 3:49 PM
Beautiful wingspread and inclusion of the young Dave. :toast:
Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments
Comment posted by jamie pringle on July 16, 2010 at 4:13 PM
I like the pose of the adult, and just the slight appearance of the egg and chick. Wonderful capture :toast:
Registered on August 10, 2005, 323 Posts, 1216 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on July 16, 2010 at 6:28 PM
Beautiful wing spread, excellent setting. Great you were able to include the chick and the egg.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 16, 2010 at 6:30 PM
Beautiful pose, and getting an adult, new chick, and egg together is awesome.
Excellent whites and BG.
:toast:
Sandy r
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 16, 2010 at 8:53 PM
There's nothing not to like about this image David, it's a wonderful moment captured.
I had an opportunity to shoot a cardinal nesting/incubating recently, but somewhere along the line she decided to abandon. Maybe the cats..I've got strays I try to discourage with a low power BB gun. I finally decided to take action after I witnessed one nab a bird right before my eyes..
I may soon resort to the 12 gauge :mad:
Anyway, I really like this one, wish it was mine :toast: :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Peter Conway on July 16, 2010 at 10:56 PM
Terrific work David. Awesome pose on the adult and the techs are spot on. Your low POV looks great (as always) Pretty neat being able to see such a young chick. :toast:

Peter
Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 17, 2010 at 2:37 AM
Great low angle, and I like the raised wing pose, detail in the whites and interest the adult has towards the chick.
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Lotito on July 17, 2010 at 4:38 AM
Beautiful lighting and subject! These terns never disappoint with their theatrics! :toast:
Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 17, 2010 at 11:53 AM
David,

I like everything about this image including the airborne bits of sand the tern's raising foot created. A wonderful image.
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on July 18, 2010 at 12:55 AM
Nice wing postion David. That's a very low perspective from a car window.

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Balke on July 18, 2010 at 10:51 AM
Outstanding capture, David. It has action, interest, sharpness for all birds, nice color. Informative caption appreciated too. :toast: :toast:
Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 18, 2010 at 7:00 PM
Love this shot David, the wingspread combined with the tiny chick are terrific. :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Sandra Hendrikse on July 19, 2010 at 2:53 AM
Wonderful capture. I like it a lot. :smile: :smile:
Registered on January 23, 2008, 48 Posts, 769 Comments
Comment posted by David Chauvin on July 19, 2010 at 5:17 AM
Love the action here, David. Wonderful job on the exposure.
Registered on August 5, 2004, 1007 Posts, 5595 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 19, 2010 at 9:29 AM
This is simply a wonderful image Dave. Egg and chick, with parent in an extremely interesting pose with high IQ. Excellent.
Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments