Salinas de San Pedro - 30.4.19
The best time for tern flight shots I've found is early evening in a cloudless blue sky but this evening isn't one of those occasions. Having got some ok shots yesterday I'm keen to try again and improve on the images of yesterday maybe even get that shot where the tern torpedos itself into the water, but thats for another day as its a cloudy evening I'm going to have to make do with some static shots.
As I've said perviously Little Terns breed along some of the mud walls of the pools that divide the salinas, Sandwich and Gull Billed Terns also breed in area but are not accessible to photograph as far as I can see. In order to get any shots its a case of first getting as close possible to a restricted access metal gate without disturbing the terns, positioning the camera lens right up to the bars as the lens is bigger than the gap, which is possible with a "cropper" as the camera sensor only uses the central area of the lens and wait....job done !
With breeding territories already established the occasional squabbles takes place chasing off interlopers that get to close on occasion closer my way which is a bonus. The constant chatter of the females calling encouraging the male tern to bring fish is relentless and one of the shots I'm after but never manage, so rather than the same old static pose to make it a little more interesting I concentrate on some behavioural gymnastics instated.
Periodically the terns take off on mass chasing each other to the other side of the salinas, with the sun now low in the evening sky and increased cloud time to call time.
Click image to view, more to follow...
As I've said perviously Little Terns breed along some of the mud walls of the pools that divide the salinas, Sandwich and Gull Billed Terns also breed in area but are not accessible to photograph as far as I can see. In order to get any shots its a case of first getting as close possible to a restricted access metal gate without disturbing the terns, positioning the camera lens right up to the bars as the lens is bigger than the gap, which is possible with a "cropper" as the camera sensor only uses the central area of the lens and wait....job done !
With breeding territories already established the occasional squabbles takes place chasing off interlopers that get to close on occasion closer my way which is a bonus. The constant chatter of the females calling encouraging the male tern to bring fish is relentless and one of the shots I'm after but never manage, so rather than the same old static pose to make it a little more interesting I concentrate on some behavioural gymnastics instated.
Periodically the terns take off on mass chasing each other to the other side of the salinas, with the sun now low in the evening sky and increased cloud time to call time.
Click image to view, more to follow...
Little Tern
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