View allAll Photos Tagged CASPIAN
Caspian Tern cruising over Lake Springfield looking forward lunch. These are rare in Central Illinois but are here this summer. They have a large wingspan and a bright red bill.
Caspian tern.
No post-processing done to photo, only cropped. Nikon NEF (RAW) files available. NPP Straight Photography at noPhotoShopping.com
The Caspean tern zooms by and tucks into a dive when he sees his target prey. Many times they pull up if the fish dissapears but this time he is in for the dive. He came up empty though. Like a pellican they turn into an aerodynamic missile when they mean business.
Caspian Tern making a sharp turn before the dive. I have photographed these large birds in SW Florida but have never seen them in Illinois before this week. They are beautiful birds with a huge wingspan and are great hunters. I saw six today.
One of two spotted as we walked early morning along a conservation park trail.
Thank you for viewing
Click image to view Larger.
Length: 18.5-21.3 in (47-54 cm)
Weight: 18.7-27.6 oz (530-782 g)
Wingspan: 49.6-50.4 in (126-128 cm)
A large, heavy-bodied seabird (and largest of all terns), with a large head; thick, straight, pointed bill; and shallowly forked tail. The long, pointed wings are broad for a tern.
Flies slowly above the water, then dives swiftly on prey (mostly fish). Usually plunges underwater but sometimes catches fish without submerging. Rests and roosts in flocks, often among other terns and gulls. Nests in large colonies or solitarily, always near water.
The next in my seabird series is this tern flying along the gulf coast of Texas on South Padre Island. When I posted this shot earlier this morning, I wasn't sure whether this was a Caspian Tern or a Royal Tern. Thanks to Brennan Mulrooney (see his comment below), a positive ID is now established, Caspian Tern.
A quartet of Caspian Terns - featured in my "Down by the Sea" calendar for 2018. Please have a look at my new calendars. They would look great hanging on your wall in your kitchen, foyer and home office, or anywhere else for that matter. You can order on line directly - just click on this link to view each calendar design and hi resolution photos. sandypaiement.wixsite.com/photos
At this late date, Christmas delivery is not possible, but 2018 lasts an entire year so still plenty of time for delivery before the year runs out!