Tag: sandwich terns

Flirting in the sunrise

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography6 Comments

I made so many trips to Fort Desoto Park, an hour away, in April and early May for spring migration. This park is where you can get the most bang for your buck to see birds (depending on what you are looking for). It’s 5 dollars to get in but I bought a seasonal pass since I knew I would be coming here a lot for a few months and it gets me into several other parks as well. In late April I headed back again. This time I wasn’t expecting anything new but you don’t know if you don’t go.

My first stop was the east beach area since this has been where the best birds have been this spring. It was just after 7am when I got out to the beach.

After snapping a few sunrise pictures and before heading to the trails I took a few minutes to see what was going on where the terns have been hanging out. There was a lot of sandwich terns this morning. They are a little smaller than the royal terns and have a small yellow tip on their black beaks. I caught one couple starting to mate but she didn’t want to have anything to do with him.

Many of the royal terns were flirting.

One couple started mating. After about 30 seconds she tried to throw him off but he was persistent.

It was a busy morning with a lot of migrating birds but more on those later. I stopped by the fishing pier before leaving and caught this boat coming into the bay.

SkyWatch Fridaylinkup party

Lots of teenage birds on the beach.

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography4 Comments

When I was at Fort Desoto in early September looking for the flamingoes I couldn’t help but notice the reddish egret adult and the juvenile (in all gray) that was learning to catch the fish from his parent. There was a handful of photographers standing along the water line waiting for the lone flamingo (that was far out in the water) to move around and feed. The reddish egrets walked right in front of us and started showing off. The juvenile appeared to have caught on quick and was catching as many fish as the parent.  They really put on a show and would not be ignored.

The juvenile sandwich terns were still screaming at the parents to bring them some fish.

This royal tern brought his young one a fish. The juvenile was probably old enough to get his own but won’t until the parent stops feeding him.

A lone lesser yellowlegs strutting around.

Terns flying high.

Dipped on a new bird

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography9 Comments

I was heading to the beach on the Gandy causeway early one morning looking for a new bird. A gull billed tern had been spotted there for several days. I parked and walked along the sand closely looking at every gull or tern. Was the above the new bird? I couldn’t tell when they were preening but when they stopped I saw that yellow tip on their beaks and knew they were just sandwich terns.

I know this little cutie is a black bellied plover.

Also not the bird I was looking for. This was a juvenile least tern.

A least tern out taking a bath.

The laughing gull is easy to spot. He was taking a bath in a puddle on the beach.

It’s past nesting season for least terns but these guys were trying to get the other tern to take the fish. The lady in the bottom was not interested.

Another least tern chasing after an adult with a fish.

I did not find the gull billed tern. I was a day late. But it was still a beautiful morning. The sun was coming up high towards Tampa and it was time to head home.

Looking towards the gulf the storms were starting to move inland.

SkyWatch Friday

Friendship Friday

All lined up

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography4 Comments

It was a quiet morning at the boat ramp at Fort Desoto Park.  Even thought the weather was perfect in early October very few boats were going out.  The seabirds were taking an early morning nap on the floating dock railings. They barely glanced at me as I walked up but I’m sure they wouldn’t have been happy if I had started to walk down the ramp and caused them to move.  Most of these are sandwich terns (with the yellow tips on their beaks) and a few laughing gulls in the mix.

Over at the fishing pier, the laughing gulls were harassing the snow egrets that were all lined up.  All fighting over bait fish.

SkyWatch Friday

Going fishin!

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography6 Comments

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Sandwich terns completely ignoring me.

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“Hey guys look over here.”

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Junior on the left is yelling at Mom to go get some fish.

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Here is where you can find some bait fish. A net that hasn’t been completely emptied yet.

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The laughing gulls were getting some fresh bait fish.

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The water around the fishing pier was full of tiny fish.

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Even the snowy egrets were getting snacks.

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A sandwich tern coming up empty.

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A pelican flies in to the jetty next to the pier.

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“Lady, you’re  not going to catch any big fish right there. And keep that fishing line away from the birds.”

Busy Saturday morning in early October at the fishing pier.

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As The World Terns

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography8 Comments

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“Mom, pay attention. I’m hungry.”

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“I said stop ignoring me and get me some fish or I’ll throw a big tantrum.”

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“Oh brother, are they flirting?” says the juvenile sandwich tern in the back.

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“We are family!”

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“Make room for me!”

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“Dad, mom said for me to tell you to go get me some fish.”

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“Please!!!” says the juvenile on the right.

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“Can we get some peace and quiet around here?”

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“Here comes a dog. We’re outta here.”

The beach wasn’t covered with shorebirds since it was sunny when I got to Gandy beach after work. There was still a few people out walking around and swimming. I did manage to see a small flock of sandwich terns hanging out together. They were busy preening and bathing and wasn’t paying much attention to me sitting in the car. You would think a lot of drama was going on by the way they were yelling at each other. There were a few baby terns from this spring but now they are as big as the adults. Their beaks and legs aren’t as black as the adults yet. They can fly but I think they are still being fed by the parents. Soon, most of them will be gone heading south with the other migraters.