ML31673391

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

With Paul Berrigan. Like many these past two days, I photographed the Royal Tern. Seen only in flight. It made three passes will I was present at the dam site. Large tern, similar in wing span to nearby Ring-billed Gulls. A light orange bill, unlike a Caspian Tern. White under wing pattern unlike a Caspian though with the appearance of a black border along the tips of the primaries. Large solid black cap. Did not appear to be crested when I saw it in flight. White, not clouded, small area on the forehead. Forked tail as befits most terns. When I have seen (and photographed) Elegant Terns in early March, they have had a rosy hue to the belly, something I have never seen in a Royal Tern, a bird I have often seen though not all that often in full breeding plumage.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 40D

ISO

400

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/11.0

Shutter speed

1/1250 sec

Dimensions

701 pixels x 552 pixels

Original file size

96.91 KB