Sterna albifrons
Written by Thursday, 24 June 2010 00:00
"A great photograph is a full expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense, and is, thereby, a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety.” Ansel Adams
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Sterna albifrons (Family: Sternidae; common name: Little tern) The Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. It was formerly placed into the genus Sterna, which now is restricted to the large white terns (Bridge et al., 2005). The former North American (S. a. antillarum) and Red Sea S. a. saundersi subspecies are now considered to be separate species, the Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) and Saunders's Tern (Sternula saundersi). This bird breeds on the coasts and inland waterways of temperate and tropical Europe and Asia. It is strongly migratory, wintering in the subtropical and tropical oceans as far south as South Africa and Australia. This is a small tern, 21-25 cm long with a 41-47 cm wingspan. It is not likely to be confused with other species, apart from Fairy Tern and Saunders's Tern, because of its size and white forehead in breeding plumage. Its thin sharp bill is yellow with a black tip and its legs are also yellow. In winter, the forehead is more extensively white, the bill is black and the legs duller. The call is a loud and distinctive creaking noise. (1) The birds were spotted at the waterlands of the Strophylia reserve (NW Peloponesse, Greece) in late spring. The photos show a breeding pair of little terns. It should be noted that the bird is a fast flyer as we found out - much like the kingfisher. The female (when not sitting on eggs) will frequently make a short round flying over her nest and then land again in it. The flying speed when approaching the nest is truly remarkable. The only way to take a clear shot of the bird during landing is to inactivate the AF on the lens, pre-focus on the nest and wait for your partner to tell you when the bird starts descending. At that time you start shooting in burst mode. The photo with the bird showing its winds in the upright position was taken this way. In the frame preceding the one shown here we missed the bird completely. During courting the male will take a small fish and approach the female; he displays by moving his head next to her. If the female likes him, she will raise her tail and the male will then give her the fish and climb on her to mate. The nests can be flooded if water levels rise; much to our dismay this happened this year. Very few pairs managed to save their eggs. The eggs were shot in the nest and the lighter next to them measures 8 x 1.9cm (we will get a ruler next time.. ) Photos by Mahi Goula and George Parchas Shooting Data: 1. Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II 2. Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II 3. Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II 4. Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II 5. Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II 6. Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
7. Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II 8. Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II 9. Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II 10. Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
(1) Wikipedia |
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