ML129187381

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Small black tern with red legs, white in the shoulder, and white tail. In flight underwing pattern showed white flight feathers with otherwise black body, and a white tail. The bird was in molt and had some white speckling on its forehead and face, and a black bill. When we arrived, the bird was on a snag hanging over the water - good views, but slightly distant. The crowd waited/observed from near the waters edge. The bird flew a couple of times, and landed on a slightly closer snag, but not on the pilings as we were all hoping. At the suggestion of another birder, when the bird flew a third time, everyone moved back up the hill a bit, and instead of landing on the snag, the bird landed on the pilings right in front of us allowing crippling views. The bird seems to like these pilings, and for those observers visiting at a later date, simply moving back a small amount can allow the bird to feel comfortable, and land hundreds of feet closer to the crowd.

Technical information

Model

COOLPIX S9900

ISO

125

Focal length

135 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/6.4

Shutter speed

1/250 sec

Dimensions

1701 pixels x 1276 pixels

Original file size

764.01 KB