Royal Tern

Gallery: AvianPosted March 16, 2012258 views12 comments

San Diego
D300s
500mm
1/1800 sec, f/7.1
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
ISO: 400
AF mode: AF-C
White balance: AUTO
Flash: Off

(Originally ID'd as a juvenile, but thanks to Jim DeW, I know now it's an adult in non-breeding plummage. Almost all the other royals around had already turned)

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 16, 2012 at 4:24 PM

Excellent.

Nice position to show features; good composition; nice detail and exposure.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on March 16, 2012 at 7:07 PM

Great flight position and excellent light shows the detail of this tern well. Love the deep rich blue background as well Sandy, well done.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 16, 2012 at 9:51 PM

Great flight pose and under wing detail

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on March 16, 2012 at 10:14 PM

Beautiful flight shot! Good job getting a catchlight on a Tern, and I like the BG because it's not the usual blue sky for these birds.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on March 16, 2012 at 10:23 PM

Very nice, I think I know this Tern. Have not processed most of my La Jolla shots yet.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on March 17, 2012 at 9:59 AM

Great exposure, BG, and details Sandy, nice POV of this interesting flight pose too.
Well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on March 17, 2012 at 11:37 AM

Great flight shot, Sandy. Nice underwing lighting and and a nice bird position showing plenty of details in this Tern. You even got a nice catchlight, which can be tough with terns.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 17, 2012 at 2:05 PM

Lovely flight shot, Sandy. The shadows under the wings show the textures well. Minor quibble: I think it is an adult Royal in winter plumage, based on the visible field marks. But it's a close call.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 17, 2012 at 2:28 PM

Jim, you sure may be right. I based my thoughts on the fact that there were many adult Royals with full black heads, and only a few like this with mottled heads. March is exactly the cusp time when breeding/nonbreeding overlaps. Non-breeding is June-March, breeding is March-June. Who knows?
Sandy

PS: Update - after comparing other images of several birds together, and looking at other telling markings, I'm sure Jim is correct that this is a adult in non-breeding plummage (IE has not turned yet). Thanks, Jim!

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 17, 2012 at 5:53 PM

A unique looking tern caught in a great flight position, like the water background too. Sweet Photo Sandy!!!

Ken Archer