ML370620041

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Probably one continuing from previous day. I spotted the first jaeger a little after 6:30am. It was resting on the water and soon took flight towards a small group of feeding Forster’s Terns. It harassed on of the terns before dropping to the water and eating the fish. I approached close enough for good photos. The bird had a bicolored bill that was bluish gray at the base and strongly hooked black tip. Head and neck were a goldish tan color. Back and wings were dark brown with blonde and rusty colored tips. Undertail coverts were barred with some wavy black lines. The center 2 tail feathers were slightly longer than rest of tail and pointed. Wings long wing white shafts showing in primaries white with some white also in bases. Underwing was heavily barred and white showing clearly at base of primaries. The bird was soon joined by a second darker jaeger. They briefly fought before it left. I have both in the same frame. The darker jaeger was similar in size and shape with the same longer and pointed central tail feathers. I watched at least 8 different chases with Forster’s Terns, Caspian Terns, and Laughing Gulls. These birds have two modes while flying. One is a slow gull like flight and the other is a powerful strong flight low along the water before rising up to badger the other birds into to dropping their food. This was over a span of 1.5 hours. Photos attached.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS REBEL T3

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

ISO

400

Focal length

380 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/125 sec

Dimensions

4083 pixels x 2722 pixels

Original file size

2.04 MB