{"id":48415,"date":"2017-09-10T05:00:38","date_gmt":"2017-09-10T11:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=48415"},"modified":"2024-12-28T10:00:07","modified_gmt":"2024-12-28T16:00:07","slug":"forsters-tern-with-prey-at-bear-river-mbr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/09\/10\/forsters-tern-with-prey-at-bear-river-mbr\/","title":{"rendered":"Forster’s Tern With Prey At Bear River MBR"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Forster'sForster’s Tern after successful dive for prey – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1\/3200, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

I have had fun photographing Forster’s Terns the last few times I have gone to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge<\/span><\/a>, they are graceful, beautiful terns and they challenge my skills. They fly fast, they hover and dive erratically and keeping track of them through a long lens is trying but whenever I can get photos of these terns I am always happy. My success rate for these terns is low, I probably toss out 100 images for every one I keep.<\/p>\n

Their hunting success rate is much higher though, I would estimate that for every three dives they make they come up with prey twice. This adult Forster’s Tern in nonbreeding plumage came up with a tiny fish after it dove into the water at the end of August.<\/p>\n

\"Forster'sForster’s Tern lifting off from water with prey – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1\/3200, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

And it was easily able to lift off and it flew almost directly towards me. The tern swallowed its prey in flight before I lost focus on it because of some vegetation that was between me and the tern.<\/p>\n

Forster’s Tern Facts and Information:<\/p>\n