Monday 9 May 2011

Common Tern.


A bit of pointing skywards for this weeks WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY entry.
 
During a recent visit to Stodmarsh, Kent I failed miserably at getting any decent flight shots of a Hobby or a Marsh Harrier but an overflying Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) just managed to get into the frame.

You have to marvel at the distances this species travels from West and South Africa just to find a lake with a floating raft here in the UK so it can breed before its return ticket southwards expires in October.    FAB.
Posted by FAB at 22:32
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37 comments:

  1. Unknown10 May 2011 at 01:36

    Cool in flight shots!

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  2. Rebecca10 May 2011 at 07:20

    Great photos!

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  3. holdingmoments10 May 2011 at 08:47

    Great captures Frank.
    A real flying machine these birds.

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  4. FAB10 May 2011 at 08:56

    Birding is Fun. Cheers Robert.

    Thanks very much Rebecca.

    Thanks Keith. They certainly zip around!

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  5. Stewart M10 May 2011 at 10:28

    Hi there - I'm always pleased when I flight shot comes off, so I assume you must be very pleased with these.

    Splendid picture.

    Stewart M - Australia

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  6. The Herald10 May 2011 at 16:58

    Superb shots Frank. How's your neck. lol.

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  7. theconstantwalker10 May 2011 at 21:14

    Beautiful flight shots Frank..Common in name only for my patch but what a beautiful bird to see.

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  8. Unknown10 May 2011 at 21:17

    Great action shots!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  9. mick10 May 2011 at 21:25

    Great in-flight photos of the Tern. They are always beautiful to watch flying around.

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  10. fjällripan10 May 2011 at 22:09

    Really great pictures!

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  11. MaineBirder10 May 2011 at 22:19

    Great flight pics Frank! The Common Tern is not the easiest bird to get a flight shot.

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  12. eileeninmd10 May 2011 at 22:45

    Wonderful in flight shots. I love all the Terrns, they are cool birds to watch!

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  13. FAB10 May 2011 at 22:50

    Hi Stewart. cheers. Definitely chuffed bearing in mind all the others I had to dump!

    Thanks Trevor (The Herald). No problem, it's been getting plenty of excercise!!

    Thanks Andrew. Far better than the long distant 'perched' shots via the scope.

    Thanks Gary.

    Cheers Mick. They do have amazing acrobatic skills.

    Thanks flallrpan.

    MaineBirder. Cheers John, I don't think I'll get a closer opportunity for a while.

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  14. FAB10 May 2011 at 22:53

    Thanks Eileen. They certainly make arial manoeuvres look easy.

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  15. Springman11 May 2011 at 03:53

    Nice captures Frank! Bird flying into frame...A devine accident? Thing is, you have to be out there trying!

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  16. FAB11 May 2011 at 10:45

    Cheers Springman. Point, focus, press and my luck was in, this time!

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  17. Bill S.11 May 2011 at 11:27

    Great pictures of them in flight. Those of us who try to capture them in flight knows how difficult it can be.

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  18. FAB11 May 2011 at 11:50

    Thanks Bill S. For me the chance shots seem to come off far better than when I actually try to plan a shot!

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  19. Anonymous11 May 2011 at 15:03

    Wow! Fantastic captures!

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  20. Amila11 May 2011 at 19:41

    Amazing BIFs!

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  21. Sondra11 May 2011 at 20:33

    another miracle of nature!! SO well done--lovely shots.

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  22. joo11 May 2011 at 21:14

    I love these photos!

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  23. FAB11 May 2011 at 21:48

    Thank you Marissa.

    Cheers Amila.

    Thanks Sondra. Just a pity the raptors didn't fly in so close .. unlike yours.

    Hi joo. Great to hear from you. Hope your recovery will be speedy.

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  24. Pat Ulrich12 May 2011 at 16:33

    Great shots! The terns are beautiful, and I really like the shape to the tail.

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  25. FAB12 May 2011 at 19:38

    Thanks Pat. The streamers get longer in the older adults.

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  26. Malgorzata Ingstad14 May 2011 at 16:30

    Your common terns are something between shot and painting, becouse of light. I think. Beautiful shots! I so other stots too, and I follow you now!

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  27. FAB15 May 2011 at 00:24

    Hi Marias. A very warm welcome to FABirding and I appreciate your compliments.

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  28. Carol Mattingly15 May 2011 at 16:49

    Gorgeous image Frank. So graceful this tern. Carol

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  29. FAB15 May 2011 at 20:06

    Thanks Carol. Their speed and manouvreability is amazing.

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  30. Crafty Green Poet18 May 2011 at 14:34

    beautiful photos, the terns have such lovely shapes in flight

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  31. Shifan18 May 2011 at 16:05

    Great captures Frank. Very cool.Thanks for visiting http://wwwmysrilanka.blogspot.com

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  32. Julie G.18 May 2011 at 18:28

    Awesome in flight captures! It's not an easy task to take fantastic photographs such as these. Both look like beautiful paintings. Fabulous!

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  33. FAB18 May 2011 at 23:47

    Hi Crafty Green Poet. Thank you.

    Cheers Shifan.

    Hi Julie. Thanks very much. I appreciate the compliment.

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  34. Carletta19 May 2011 at 00:34

    Wonderful shots!
    Very regal looking bird. :)

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  35. FAB19 May 2011 at 23:29

    Thanks Carletta. Not quite as regal as a Royal Tern though.

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  36. Jeanne Frances Klaver21 May 2011 at 00:21

    I also marvel at these shots...stunning!

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  37. FAB21 May 2011 at 08:32

    Hi Jeanne. Thanks very much.

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I hope you enjoyed your visit and I appreciate your comments.

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