Least Tern. Kennebunk, Maine, USA, June 2024 — One of the reasons we invest in the long telephoto lenses and the cameras with good sensors is to be able to take photos like these from a distance where we were not disturbing the birds. But then I always have mixed feelings about sharing them. They look like they were taken from much closer than they were, and I certainly do not want to encourage folks with cell phones or even their kit zoom lenses to try to get shots like this. This is with the OM System OM-1Mkii with the M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent, plus the 2x digital tele-converter and a healthy crop to bring the final field of view to about 3000mm…or spotting scope scale. It is worth sharing, I think, because it is just something most of us never get to see. Look at how well camouflaged those eggs are. In fact, when the Tern wants to hide the eggs she (or he) just gets up and moves a few feet to one side or the other. Once the bird is off the nest it is almost impossible to see the eggs, even with optical aid. This bird is just returning to the nest after attempting to distract a gull. Program mode with my bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.