Hunting Washington Forum

Community => Photo & Video => Topic started by: Nerka on August 15, 2014, 08:11:08 AM

Title: Take a Tern
Post by: Nerka on August 15, 2014, 08:11:08 AM: Royal Terns at Moss Landing Refuse in central California, Foggy overcast conditions, fast daring flyers I might add.
D800-300 2.8, a few with 1.4 TC

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5590/14739090157_55414c78c9_c.jpg)

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5553/14739089837_e135f35cf6_c.jpg)

(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3880/14739199087_90d355f0b0_c.jpg)

(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3906/14739199177_0d2794ae02_c.jpg)

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5581/14739199307_63d2659114_c.jpg)

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5553/14739199417_4d3280e700_c.jpg)
Title: Re: Take a Turn
Post by: Bean Counter on August 16, 2014, 07:56:08 PM: You sure that's not a Caspian tern?
Title: Re: Take a Turn
Post by: Nerka on August 17, 2014, 12:46:55 PM: Quote from: Bean Counter on August 16, 2014, 07:56:08 PM
You sure that's not a Caspian tern?
could be, but if you download the top photo, and zoom in, you can see the large black crown on it's head puffing way out the back, as well as speckled brow. lemmie know what you think after review. here is one view

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi57.tinypic.com%2Ffx76eq.jpg&hash=e7a26b39cfac75323216ba4e2466a6986a24caef)
Title: Re: Take a Turn
Post by: boneaddict on August 17, 2014, 12:49:09 PM: Do you shoot with a brimmed hat. (incoming presents). Great photos
Title: Re: Take a Tern
Post by: kisfish on August 17, 2014, 01:25:08 PM: great pics :tup:
Title: Re: Take a Tern
Post by: Nerka on August 17, 2014, 03:24:51 PM: thanks fer the kudos
Title: Re: Take a Turn
Post by: Bean Counter on August 18, 2014, 10:55:43 AM: Quote from: Nerka on August 17, 2014, 12:46:55 PM
Quote from: Bean Counter on August 16, 2014, 07:56:08 PM
You sure that's not a Caspian tern?
could be, but if you download the top photo, and zoom in, you can see the large black crown on it's head puffing way out the back, as well as speckled brow. lemmie know what you think after review. here is one view

Its hard to say, bub. At least for me.

I checked David Sibley's guide and from what I deduce: the caspian possibility is supported by their widespread presence along the west coast-assuming you shot this in WA. The Royal Tern is far more common in southern CA.

However, a distinctive hallmark of the caspian tern is its very red bill. Sibley describes the royal tern with a more orange bill, which seems to jive more with your excellent shots here.

Anyone? :dunno:
Title: Re: Take a Tern
Post by: rim_runner on August 18, 2014, 11:34:05 AM: These don’t look like the Caspian Turns that are at the Nisqually refuge. The birds that were identified for me by a very experienced birder as Caspian Turns look bigger with a shorter but thicker bill. The birds at Nisqually also have a solid black forehead.
Title: Re: Take a Tern
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on August 18, 2014, 11:44:26 AM: Look like royals to me. I've never seen one in WA.
Title: Re: Take a Turn
Post by: runamuk on August 18, 2014, 11:56:56 AM: the author says Moss Landing Refuse in central California guessing they are royals seeing as they are in Cali ;)

Quote from: Bean Counter on August 18, 2014, 10:55:43 AM
Quote from: Nerka on August 17, 2014, 12:46:55 PM
Quote from: Bean Counter on August 16, 2014, 07:56:08 PM
You sure that's not a Caspian tern?
could be, but if you download the top photo, and zoom in, you can see the large black crown on it's head puffing way out the back, as well as speckled brow. lemmie know what you think after review. here is one view

Its hard to say, bub. At least for me.

I checked David Sibley's guide and from what I deduce: the caspian possibility is supported by their widespread presence along the west coast-assuming you shot this in WA. The Royal Tern is far more common in southern CA.

However, a distinctive hallmark of the caspian tern is its very red bill. Sibley describes the royal tern with a more orange bill, which seems to jive more with your excellent shots here.

Anyone? :dunno:
Title: Re: Take a Tern
Post by: Bean Counter on August 18, 2014, 12:24:43 PM: :bash: :bash:

So much for the "I read it for the articles" line :chuckle:
Title: Re: Take a Tern
Post by: Nerka on August 19, 2014, 06:24:55 PM: BUT WAIT!!! THERE"S MORE!!! Mr. Bean amazing, did more research and...........................they are Caspian

http://www.elkhornslough.org/sloughlife/birds/caspian_tern.htm (http://www.elkhornslough.org/sloughlife/birds/caspian_tern.htm)
Title: Re: Take a Tern
Post by: Bean Counter on August 20, 2014, 05:15:57 PM: Wow that's a great website!
I must acknowlege author and pro birder Dave Sibley, whose well written guide makes such distinctions possible. There are birding books out there with great photos, but Sibley's guide seems to be among the better due to the descriptions, habitat ranges, etc.
Title: Re: Take a Tern
Post by: Nerka on August 20, 2014, 07:45:46 PM: I tip my hat off to you, but that punk rocker "hair do" is baffling, who knows!.
Title: Re: Take a Tern
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on September 12, 2014, 09:11:55 AM: While they look more like royals than Caspians, because I was convinced they aren't Caspians (which I see daily from May through September), may I propose elegant terns in post-breeding plumage http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Elegant_Tern/id (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Elegant_Tern/id)