I’m in the process of preparing the series of playful kites but ran out of time, thanks in part to the Lake Mungo road being closed and me having to make alternative plans. Caspian Terns feature instead, what neat looking birds they are!
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
1/1250, f8.0, ISO 200 – Canon 7DII
Caspian Terns are Australia’s largest tern reaching up to 60cm and weighing almost 700g. Their wings are crazily long and slender, and enable them to be agile in flight, which is particularly useful when smaller terns hassle them in the hope they’ll drop their fish. The image above was taken at Mud Islands and shows the extraordinary length of the wing.
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
1/1000, f8.0, ISO 200 – Canon 7DII
Caspian Terns have large red bills. During the breeding season the tern is white with grey wings and darker flight feathers, and they have a shaggy little crest of black feathers which show up quite well in the image above. They dive for fish, which are often eaten before they re-emerge from their dive. During the breeding season Caspian Terns either carry fish or swallow them whole and regurgitate them for the nestlings.
Weather permitting I might be meeting a new species this week, though that can never truly be planned, which is one of my favourite things about birding.
Happy birding
Kim
~ Thank you for visiting and commenting
~ If you would like to join subscribers who receive a weekly email letting them know that lirralirra has been updated please use the ‘subscribe’ box above right
Beautiful photos again Kim. Glad you are out and about again. These photos inspire me to focus on trying for some Caspian Tern shots of my own when my wife and I head up to Laurieton in August. Here’s hoping I can do nearly as well as you. Thanks for the posts.
I have just googled Laurieton – it looks like an awesome place to visit! I hope I get to see some of the shots you capture. Thank you for your kind comment.
Looking forward to seeing if you meet a new species next week! I wonder what it will be?!?!
No new species, hopefully soon!
That wing span is incredible. Love the slightly goofy looking ‘do’ in the next photo too.
Megathanks.
I should do a ‘goofy’ birds post one day! Or an in-flight post when the birds look odd, I have lots of them.
Lovely Saturday morning post for me with a pot of favourite tea😋
That is so nice to know Alison, it makes me smile and I could use a smile today 🙂
I love the flight one because it really does show how long and slender those wings are – CRAZY! Bet they can do quite the acrobatics even though they are large!
The more I look at the length of the wing the more out of proportion it seems
Fantastic photos especially the one in flight. A shame about Lake Mungo Road being closed.
Thanks Janette, it was a shame about the road but at least we didn’t get stuck up there in the cold and wet.
Both great photos. You’ve gone back to using the 7D! Any chance, when you’re posting your interesting EXIF data (for amateurs, at least), could you possibly include the focal length used? Loving your newsletters & great photos, as usual
Thanks Pauli, I’m glad you enjoy lirralirra. These images were taken a while ago, I don’t use a 7DII now. I’m usually at full stretch with the focal length, I’ll try to remember to put it in, especially if I’m lucky enough for the birds to come closer.
Love your photos and I like the way you describe the bird. Happy birding and take care.
Thank you Joyce, and I very much appreciate your kind comments.
Kim that is an outstanding photo. Good to hear that you are back in the field.
Thank you Kathleen, it’s an image from a while ago, not back out yet but hopefully soon.