Outlier Tern

Gallery: AvianPosted September 8, 2012124 views6 comments

I believe this is a Gull-Billed Tern. If it is not, it is still the first of this species I have seen. It was taken today, September 8, 2012, at San Joaquin Wildlife Preserve in Irvine, CA. It was fishing in the pond, and eventually landed on the bank among a variety of shore birds, ducks, Black Neck Stilts, American Avocets, etc. After resting, it took off and I snapped a series of shots.

Nikon D-800 Nikkor 200-400 lens 400mm ISO 400 1/1250 f/7.1 White Balance Auto RAW Cropped in CS6 Taken on a tripod with a Wimberley Gimbal.

Comments welcome

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on September 8, 2012 at 9:55 PM

Very nice capture Patrick,
The detail and the whites are very good against a great BG.

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on September 9, 2012 at 12:26 AM

Like this flight shot alot! Very good wing position and a good BG, good light and nice catchlight. The bird might be a bit cyan/blue at least on my monitor looks like it is.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on September 9, 2012 at 12:32 AM

A nice flight shot. It has been about 20 years since I've seen a Gull-billed Tern, but this seems to fit for a juvie plumage bird.

I agree with Robert about the color cast to the tern.

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

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on September 9, 2012 at 11:19 PM

Patrick, this is a very nice flight image, comments on color balance have already been made, but I love the pose and the detail in this shot - especially against that beautiful BG - well done.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Oakley on September 10, 2012 at 1:40 AM

Nice shot Patrick - Gull-billed Tern is quite common here in Australia and this certainly looks like a young one,
Cheers Greg

Registered on June 12, 2012, 115 Posts, 266 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on September 10, 2012 at 9:32 PM

Great exposure and DOF, sharpness and detail and wing position. Really, really nice.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments