Eight days ago at Bear River MBR I spent much of the morning attempting to photograph Forster’s Terns in flight.
1/4000, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This was one of the more unusual flight postures I captured as one of the terns wheeled in flight over a presumed fish in the water directly below ‘him’. It happened so quickly I was very lucky to avoid clipping any body parts and I was pleasantly surprised that I had a catch light in his eye. In about 80% of my tern photos that morning, I didn’t. Terns in flight are buggers that way.
Last week I posted a different photo of this same bird in a somewhat similar flight posture. That photo was taken three frames in the burst before this one, suggesting that this tern was quite the acrobat. But then when they need to be, most of them are.
Happy July 4th everyone. I hope you enjoy this holiday more than I do.
Ron
That is an amazing posture and capture. Being as flexible as your average brick I notice things like that – with envy.
“Being as flexible as your average brick”
I get that, EC. Two metal rods in my back have really stiffened me up.
Thank you, Ron! This Forster’s Tern posturing reminds me of a ballerina. So beautiful. Happy 4th!!
Thanks, Lydia.
The curves! And the way the left wing just fades out at the top of the image. It just sends one into a different, lyrical, peaceful place.
I like your description, Carolyn. Thanks.
WOW! They ARE quite the acrobats! 🙂 Tend to think of birds being pretty stiff bodied BUT!
4th a mixed bag for me tho mostly human caused unpleasantness………..;)
Happy Independence Day………….:)
Same to you, Judy. I’m happy to celebrate our independence but not with fireworks.
Happy 4rh of July to everyone. Your camera caught another great photo of a bird in the air.
Thank you, Trudy.
Beautiful photo of a beautiful bird and definitely not an easy capture.
I was born and raised in Philly so 4th has always been special for me. When I was a little kid Mom took me to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell and Betsy Ross house etc so Independence Day was much different than out here in the West. But of course at 85 now that was a long time ago.
Happy 4th to all except that for sure our birds and wildlife do not appreciate all the fireworks noise.
Thanks, Everett.
One of my direct paternal ancestors fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill but I’ve never seen any of the historic places you mentioned.
Another moment of avian art captured. Watching Terns is amazing, but they go so fast that it’s hard to follow with any detail the extraordinary acrobatics they perform. Your photos have captured these beautiful moments for us to gaze at with awe.
There are times where I wonder if I would trade our great gift – our bodies and hands with opposable thumbs – for a body and wings like these. I dream of what that must be like.
Michael, I’m selfish enough to want both – hands with opposable thumbs AND wings.
Just a stunning capture ! and thanks for this beauty with which to start a day
that I dread…….
I’ll take tern flight “pyrotechnics” ANYTIME over the bombast we’ll endure tonight and on the 24th……I’ll race you to the bottom as to who’ll enjoy this holiday LESS……
Kris, you’d be very hard pressed to beat me to that particular bottom. Fireworks in neighborhoods make me very angry.
How do you this? You capture the most remarkable actions. Beautiful bird beautiful photograph. You are remarkable.
Take Care,
Kaye
Thanks, Kaye. If you take enough photos you have to get lucky once in a while… 🙂
Wow!! Great photo!
Thanks, Terri.