photoartflightMating Common Terns
Posted on June 18, 2014
We came across a pair of mating Common Terns on the Beach. We could get fairly close, but did not want to disturb them. A third bird flew in and chased off the male. In the protected roped off area there were many Common Terns mating and building/digging nests.
Mating Terns. Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon i.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/8, 1/1000, ISO 400
Mating Terns. Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon i.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/5.6, 1/2500, exp. comp. -0.33, ISO 400
Mating Terns. Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon i.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/5.6, 1/2500, exp. comp. -0.33, ISO 400
Threes a Crowd. Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon i.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO 400,
Oystercatchers protecting their chicks
Posted on June 18, 2014
This family of Oystercatchers was wandering across the sand dunes, when all of a sudden a Common Tern seemed very interested in the chicks. It kept diving down to get the chicks, hitting them and trying to get them. The adult Oystercatchers were trying to protect their chicks to a point, but also just wandered off here and there not paying attention to some of the attacks. Some of the chicks got knocked over, but eventually started moving again. All the chicks in this family survived this series of attacks and moved on, but another family of Oystercatchers I was watching lost all three of their chicks to the Terns, so I did not post any of those photos here. All of these are cropped in quite a bit, but thought it was an interesting story showing their survival.
Oystercatchers moving on after the Terns left Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon i.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/8, 1/1600, +0.67 exp. comp, ISO 400, Fairly Heavy Crop.
Common Tern Attacking Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon i.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/8, 1/1600, +0.67 exp. comp, ISO 400, Fairly Heavy Crop.
Tern Pulling Up After Hitting Oystercatcher Chick Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon i.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/8, 1/1600, +0.67 exp. comp, ISO 400, Fairly Heavy Crop.
Squawking at the Attacking Tern Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon i.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/8, 1/1600, +0.67 exp. comp, ISO 400, Fairly Heavy Crop.
Warding Off the Attacking Tern Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon i.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/8, 1/1600, +0.67 exp. comp, ISO 400, Fairly Heavy Crop.
Diving Tern Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon i.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/8, 1/1600, +0.67 exp. comp, ISO 400, Fairly Heavy Crop.
Tern Diving Again Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon i.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/8, 1/1600, +0.67 exp. comp, ISO 400, Fairly Heavy Crop.
More American Oystercatcher Chicks
Posted on June 16, 2014
Some more American Oystercatchers with chicks from Nickerson Beach, Long Island. Still going through my Raw files from the other week. This pair had 3 chicks which were following the male. The male was picking up tid bits on the beach feeding the chicks, then they ran back to mom and stayed close to her.
Oystercatcher with Chick. Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon 2X Series II Teleconverter, f/10, 1/640 sec, ISO 400
Oystercatcher with 2 Chicks. Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon 2X Series II Teleconverter, f/10, 1/500 sec, +0.33 exposure compensation, ISO 400
Hanging out by Mom. Canon EOS1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon 2X Series II Teleconverter, f/10, 1/400 sec, +0.67 exposure compensation, ISO 400
Black Skimmers in Rough Surf
Posted on June 13, 2014
Some more photos of Black Skimmers showing them working and fishing in the rough surf. I am used to seeing them fish in fairly calm waters, so these seemed like a treat to see them working in a different environment than I am used to. Some of the waves coming in were quite rough, but they were just out there cutting through the water in-between the waves.
Black Skimmer “Skimming” in the rough surf. Canon EOS1D MkIV, 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon 1.4X teleconverter, f/8, 1/1250 sec, ISO 400
Pulling up with the wave
Looking down
Photo showing Black Skimmer “hitting” something in the water. The large red and black bill is knife-thin and the lower mandible is longer than the upper. The bird drags the lower bill through the water as it flies along, hoping to catch fish. The head goes down and back somewhat when it does hit something, but not always a fish.
Showing how Black Skimmers “Skim” the water for their food.
In the Foam
Black Skimmer with beck hitting something or a fish in the water.
Black Skimmer climbing from the surf to go around again.
Three Shot Panorama with 400mm & 1.4X Teleconverter to show Waves. Shot as a burst so waves somewhat lined up for the panorama.
American Oystercatchers at Nickerson Beach
Posted on June 11, 2014
I was following this family of American Oystercatchers as they wandered along the sand dunes. The adult pair separated and 2 of the chicks went with the other adult Oystercatcher and went farther away in the grasses. They were in and out of the grasses so it was hard to get clear shots of them but this adult and chick came closer and were in an area with less grasses to interfere with my photos. I thought it added a little interest as to their habitat, but I would have liked it without the grasses. The adult was finding food and feeding the chick as it went along. If you are in the area it is a great place for photography.
American Oystercatcher with chick, Canon EOS 1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS lens, Canon 1.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/8, 1/1600 sec, +0.33 exposure compensation, ISO 400
Black Skimmers at Nickerson Beach
Posted on June 10, 2014
Nickerson Beach was an interesting spot for bird photography. Having large groups of Black Skimmers, Common Terns and Oystercatchers. I like photographing Black Skimmers, but where I usually find them, the main group might have 50 – 70 birds, here at Nickerson Beach it was probably about 500 or so. They were off to one side of the roped off protected area to the left of the entrance. It was fun to see a group that large all of a sudden take off in such a large group. I only had my 400mm with a 1.4X teleconverter on at the time so I was only getting a small group out of the extremely large group flying by in waves. Next time I will be more prepared and have a wide angle zoom for these type of shots.
Who Are You Looking At!
Posted on June 5, 2014
This American Oystercatcher was searching for food in the sand at Nickerson Beach in Long Island. It started walking straight towards me as I was tracking its movements through the lens. It stopped and was looking straight at me as though it was saying ” Who Are You Looking At”! Let me know what title you would give the main photo!
Hatched Oystercatcher Egg on the Sand. Canon 1D MkIV, 400mm f/4 DO IS, 25mm Canon Extension Tube- (for closer focusing, f/8, 1/500 sec, -0.33 exposure compensation, ISO 400
American Oystercatcher Working on a meal. Canon 1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO lens, Canon Series III 1.4X Teleconverter, f/8, 1/1250 sec, +0.67 exposure compensation, ISO 400
American Oystercatcher Closeup Canon 1D MkIV, Canon 400mm f/4 DO lens, Canon Series III 1.4X Teleconverter, f/8, 1/1250 sec, +0.67 exposure compensation, ISO 400
More Fighting Black Skimmers
Posted on June 3, 2014
I finished working on the rest of the files from Nickerson Beach of the Fighting Black Skimmers in Flight. This whole sequence lasted only about 4 seconds, if that. Here are a select few from 35 shots taken.
Canon EOS 1D MkIV, Canon 400mm DO Lens f/4 IS, w/ Canon 1.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/8 @ 1/1600 sec ISO 400, +0.33 exposure compensation, handheld. (Effective focal length with 1.3 crop camera body, 400mm lens & 1.4X Teleconverter = 728mm)
Black Skimmers – In Flight Fighting
Posted on June 2, 2014
A friend invited me to go to Nickerson Beach in Long Island, which is known for large groups of nesting Common Terns, Black Skimmers and Oystercatchers and I was not disappointed. Also has a large group of Laughing Gulls (the Gulls with black heads). There are 2 main roped off areas for the nesting birds and we went to the one on the left. The birds are also active on the sand dunes, beach and in the rough surf. There was plenty of photo opportunities in all locations with a lot activity and at this time we saw quite a few Oystercatcher chicks. There were also many mating Common Terns. It is best to get there early for the best time to photograph the birds when it is not crowded and the birds are active. For detail shots of the birds nesting on the ground, bring your longest lens. It is fun to see and photograph the Black Skimmers and Common Terns fishing in the rough surf. Birds in flight photography is pretty much non stop all the while I was there. I have a large amount of images to go through, almost 3,000 files, but here is 1 image to start. I will post a full series of the fighting images tomorrow to show illustrate the story. Thanks again Bun for taking me along!
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