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Fish Dance


Fish Dance
Photo Information
Copyright: Pekka Valo (pekkavalo1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 453 W: 58 N: 2111] (6749)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07-11
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon EF 400mm f4.0 DO IS USM, RAW ISO 800, Canon EF 2x Extender II
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/640 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-07-16 21:54
Viewed: 677
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Adult Common Terns playing with fish at RSPB Freiston Shore nature reserve. I have posted another picture as WORKSHOP to show more of the moves of this dance.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a circumpolar distribution breeding in temperate and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia and east and central North America. It is strongly migratory, wintering in the subtropical and tropical oceans. It is sometimes known as the sea swallow.

This is a medium-sized tern, 34-37 cm long with a 70-80 cm wingspan. It is most readily confused within its range with the similar Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea and Roseate Tern Sterna dougalli.

Its thin sharp bill is red with a dark tip. Its longish legs are also red. Its upperwings show a dark primary wedge, unlike Arctic, in which they are uniformly grey. Its long tail extends only to the wingtips on the standing bird, unlike Arctic and Roseate Terns, which extend past the wingtips. It is not as pale as Roseate Tern, and has longer wings.
In winter, the forehead and underparts are white. Juvenile Common Terns show extensive ginger coloration and lack the scaly appearance of juvenile Roseate Terns.

The call is a clear piping, like Arctic Tern but lower pitched and less strident.

This species breeds in colonies on coasts and islands and often inland on suitable freshwater lakes. This latter practice is assisted by the provision of floating "tern rafts" to give a safe breeding area. It lays two to four eggs. Like many white terns, it is very defensive of its nest and young and will attack humans and other large predators, but unlike the more aggressive Arctic Tern rarely hits the intruder, usually swerving off at the last moment.

Like all Sterna terns, the Common Tern feeds by plunge-diving for fish, from either the sea or freshwater lakes and large rivers. It usually dives directly, and not from the "stepped-hover" favoured by Arctic Tern. The offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display. Common terns are known to reach an age of 23 years or more on occasion (Austin, 1953).

The old Scottish word for the Common Tern is pictar, occasionally encountered in Scotland and the Maritime Provinces of Canada.

The Common Tern is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
Jamesp, Evelynn, Argus, siggi, haraprasan, maurydv, Gert-Paassen, jaycee, SelenE, nglen, rousettus, goldyrs, uleko has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2008-07-16 22:09]

Hi Pekka

Great action shot with excellent detail. The display and fish are wonderful. Great low POV too.

James

This is wonderfully sharp with good details and saturated color. The action makes it special!

TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3813 W: 190 N: 11346] (34981)
  • [2008-07-17 0:29]

Hello Pekka,
A fine and remarkable action shot of a pair of Common Terns performing a pair-bonding ceremony - I like your title!
The low POV is great, taken with fine sharpness and set in an excellent composition.
TFS this superb image,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4716] (16222)
  • [2008-07-17 1:31]

Hello Pekka,
Great capture of this couple of tern.
The white is well exposed.
Good moment showing, too.
Regards Siggi

Hi Pekka,
A superb capture of this two terns dancing with their meal. Superb composition and sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Bellissimo momento di cattura, eccellenti POV e composizione, ottima definizione dei dettagli, bellissimi anche i colori. Grazie e compolimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-07-17 4:06]

Hello Pekka, how amazing shot. The birds holding the fish and singing to the glory. Well done Ganesh

Hello Pekka,

suburp picture from these couple birds.
You've catched them on the right moment.

Gert

  • Great 
  • cloud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 71 N: 758] (4689)
  • [2008-07-17 6:42]

Hello Pekka,
I viewed your workshop and it's is funny. Good sharpness and interesting situation.
Regards, Pawel

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-07-17 8:49]

Hi Pekka,

This is a wonderful and delightful sight. The pair does seem to be dancing - I love the poses. The fish in the one's mouth is wonderful. Excellent low pov, nice natural colors, fine details, and a lovely setting. You froze the action perfectly.

Jane

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
  • [2008-07-17 11:14]

Hi Pekka,
Very nice action hot with a good low POV, color tones, composition and details. TFS
All the best,
Selen

Preciosa toma Pekka. La gama de colores es asombrosa y los puntos rojos de patas y cabeza dan un contraste estupendo a la toma. Buena profundidad. Un bello trabajo !!

Saludos: Josep Ignasi Tejedor.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2908 W: 34 N: 8623] (32138)
  • [2008-07-18 4:43]

Hi Pekka a great moment captured by you good timing to get this one. i must admit it has made me laugh.well done TFS.
Nick..

Hello Pekka,
I know some kind of dance, if I cant do:) but I have not hear about fish dance:) After this joke, congratulations indeed for this perfect capture. Excellent action scene with wonderful focus, POV and timing. Thanks. best wishes
Ahmet

Hi Pekka, great capture of beutiful dancing couple with splendid sharpness, superb details and good colors, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

WHat a lovely action shot, Pekka!Superb work!
Very well done!

Goldy

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2991 W: 162 N: 949] (2787)
  • [2008-07-20 0:57]

Hej Pekka,
Brilliant moment captured of these Common Terns doing the 'fish dance'! I expect its him showing off to her or has she just received the gift? :-) Great focus and sharpness and beautiful colours too in this fine composition.
TFS and cheers, Ulla

  • Great 
  • mariki Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1060 W: 61 N: 2306] (9467)
  • [2008-08-12 23:48]

Hello Pekka,

Superb picture of see birds as usual. Excellent composition with a good timing. Great POV, DOF and sharpness. Very good colours. Perhaps I would have crop a litte bit otherwise, removing a bit of the water above in order to center the terns vertically and to have a symmetry between the wet zone in the foreground and the see.
Cheers,
Mariki

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