Caspian Tern

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Caspian Tern
Photo Information
Copyright: Richard Cridland (rcrick) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 557 W: 39 N: 991] (3258)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-27
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 5D, Canon EF100-400 F4.5-5.6L IS USM, SanDisk Extr. IV 2Gb, Hoya 77mm Pro1 DMC UV LPF
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Port of Brisbane Wetlands [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-02 15:19
Viewed: 430
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
My wife and I just spent Two days away down at Girraween National Park, which I will do a theme for, an amazing place with its granite habitat which is unique in Queensland, its situated about three hours dive south of Brisbane on the New England Table Lands.

Sorry I digress that has nothing to do with this image; this is a Caspian Tern, taken down at the Brisbane Port Authority Wet Lands.

It is the largest tern in Australia, with long, slender backswept wings and a slightly forked tail. The heavy bill is red with a dusky tip. When breeding the tern is white, except for a black crown from bill to nape and a short shaggy black crest. The mantle and upperwings are grey and the flight feathers are darker. The eye is dark brown and legs are black.

When not breeding, the crown is finely streaked white. The sexes are similar. Immature birds are similar to non-breeding adults. Younger birds are mottled grey and brown.

They are found throughout Australasia, North America, Eurasia and Africa.

Caspian Terns are usually found near the coast, in extensive wetlands, on coastal and interior beaches and sheltered estuaries. The Caspian Tern lives equally well in fresh water and saline environments.

From a large breeding colony at Lake Moondarra, near Mt. Isa, Queensland, banded birds have moved east and south as far as Murray Bridge, South Australia - a direct flight of about 1500 km.

They feed almost entirely on fish. They usually feed by shallow plunging; hovering up to 15 m above the water with bill pointing down, before folding wings in and diving, fully submerged, to quickly re-emerge. They usually swallow fish in flight, head first. Most feeding activity is in the early to mid-morning. Whole fish are regurgitated to feed the young.

Caspian Terns breed in scattered single pairs or dense colonies. Both sexes share nest-building, incubation and care of the young. The nest is a deep scrape, usually unlined, but occasionally sparsely ringed with debris or scraps of local vegetation such as saltbush.

Link: http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=252

Details; Shot Raw and converted to Jpeg, cropped and resized, passed though “Neat Image” to reduce the digital noise, sharpened slightly for posting.

Camera Model Canon EOS 5D
Shooting Date/Time 27/04/2008 2:12:30 PM
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/400
Av( Aperture Value ) 9.0
Metering Mode Center-Weighted Average Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 160
Lens EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length 400.0 mm
Image Size 790x557
Image Quality Superfine
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Auto
AF Mode AI Servo AF
Picture Style Neutral
Sharpness 5
Contrast 2
Saturation 2
Color tone 1
Color Space sRGB
Noise Reduction On
File Size 46 KB
Custom Function C.Fn:00-0
Drive Mode Continuous shooting
jaycee, CeltickRanger, SueThomson, matatur, SelenE, jpdenk, JPlumb, smitha, inked has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To smitha: Caspian Ternrcrick 1 05-07 02:42
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4021] (13255)
  • [2008-05-02 16:17]

Hi Rick,

Your in-flight series is lovely. Beautiful Tern in a wonderful position. I love the angle formed by the wing and the tail feathers. A fantastic view of the face with excellent colors and details.

Jane

hello Richard

WOW ! superb in-flight shot of this Caspian Tern,
fine POV and framing, i love his fliying way coming down,
lovely luminosity on the subject with great sharpness and details,

TFS

Asbed

Hi Richard
I like how this one is captured 'flying down' and fills the frame nicely. Good detail on the eye and beak and good note. I have a new found respect for photographing 'birds in flight' after my efforts in trying to capture a Sea Osprey this morning!
Cheers
Sue

A beautiful in-flight capture of a tern from a low viewpoint, reminiscent of a modern jet plane Richard, the azure sky behind enhance the colours and the form of the tern perfectly. Thanks for sharing it, my friend.
Cheers,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2336 W: 59 N: 4112] (13398)
  • [2008-05-03 4:21]

Hi Richard,
A very good in-flight capture of this caspian tern. The bird looks beautiful against the brilliant blue sky. Focus, sharpness, catchlight in the eye, pose you captured and composition look so nice. TFS
Greetings,
Selen

Hi Rick,

A very nice shot of this Tern, a very pleasant composition. While it occurs here, I haven't seen this one yet, as it's not very common in my vicinity.

Thanks,
John

Hello Richard,
Well done in flight Tern. For instance no blown highlights.
Very sharp.
TFS
Annick

Hi Rick,
splendid inflight cature, focus is perfect, lovely colours and excellent lighting,
fantatstic shot,
cheer,
friendly,
Pat

  • Great 
  • JPlumb Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 654 W: 159 N: 889] (2827)
  • [2008-05-04 22:48]

Very nice frame filling shot of this Tern Rick. You have excellent detail on this guy in an in-flight perfect pose. Colour and colour contrasts, with that beak and sky are excellent.

Thanks, John

Hello ichard,
Tell you what, I have always found it difficult to get a good inflight shot.And even if I manage I rarely get a catch light in the bird's eye. So when I saw this picture I was really amazed at the skillful way you have captured this beautiful Caspian Tern with good focus, sharpness, details and a good catchlight in the eye . Exposure is spot on and I really liked the POV too.
Thanks for the share,
Smitha.

  • Great 
  • inked Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 125 W: 0 N: 214] (634)
  • [2008-05-07 22:33]

Hi Richard,
nice one! i see what you mean about a very similar shot.. great pose and fantastic lighting.. great focus, super sharp detail.. fantastic! nice work and tfs!
Gethin

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