On a drive on Wildlife Drive at Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, I kept hearing splash sounds in the ponds on either side of the drive. They were made by dozens of Forster’s Terns as they dove into the water to catch small fish. The Terns were amazingly energetic and fast, perhaps not to the level of Peregrine Falcons, but still way too fast for me. By the time I heard a splash sound, they were already in and out of the water, climbing toward the sky.
I tried to photograph them diving but found that I missed them practically all the time. Finally, I stopped following them with my camera as they were flying around, and aimed it at an an area of a pond where many Terns were diving, and then waited. As soon as I heard a splash, I clicked on the shutter. The images shown below are combined from two passes around Wildlife Drive.
The following photo is not sharp, but the Tern’s speed left me no time to react and focus properly.
Unfortunately I bugger off into’t live(a) near the refuge and give to effort 2 hours to bugger off there. awe-inspiring series of activity shots Hien, I could sit down all Clarence Shepard Day Jr. and spotter diving birds.
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🙂 another bird I’m crazy about – terns! They’re so graceful. And SO fast – what a challenge to photograph.
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They are like acrobats, very fast ones!
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Awesome series of action shots Hien, I could sit all day and watch diving birds.
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Thank you Randall. Unfortunately I don’t live near the refuge and have to drive 2 hours to get there. Otherwise I would be there all day.
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Graceful and determined Hien, great series of photographs.
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Thank you Mary!
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You are amazing at capturing birds in action. These are extraordinary transporting me right to the scene with you. Wonderful!
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Thank you Sue!
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Great capture, anh Hiền
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Thank you Anh Nhi!
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Terns are captivating to watch. Love the way the splash was captured!
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Thanks Eliza! I try take their photos every year, and am slowing improving each year. 🙂
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sea foods are delicious.. Thanks.
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Thanks!
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I’ve never been able to catch a tern in a dive, they’re too quick for me, even though I’ve practiced on gulls, which dive similarly to terns, but slower. You did very well as far as I’m concerned!
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They are very quick indeed, Jerry. Maybe some kind of timer/trigger device to take a photo whenever they dive would help.
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Terrific action captures, Hien!
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Thank you so much, Dries!
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Great tips! Patience makes amazing images 🙂 Well captured!
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Thanks Indah! I’ve learned to be more patient with time. Maybe we all do.
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Yikes, Hien! That is one nosedive the bird took! Did he not know you weren’t ready?! 😀
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He was testing me, Lois! Thanks for commenting.
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