6/24/2011: Least Tern Fledgling, Feathers on Friday
On my digiscoping excursion in Orange County CA last weekend, we went to the Least Tern enclosures (or exclosures more accurately). Beyond the page-wire fence are two smaller compounds protected only by snow-fencing. The nests there have not fared well this year, as a coyote discovered the easy pickings and accounted for many of the nests. Still, this fledgling, which we found on its own out on the open beach, is evidence that at least a few of the nests were successful. I love the delicate colors and patterning. Look closely and you will see a few pin feathers still around the brown patch on the head.
We kept hoping that one of the adults would come and feed the fledgling, but this is a close as we got…
We did not have good light as it was a pretty standard June-gloom morning for Orange Co., but adequate for these shots.
Canon SD4000IS behind the Vario Eyepiece on the ZEISS DiaScope 85FL for equivalent fields of view in the 2000mm range. Auto focus and programmed auto exposure. Shutter speeds from 1/200th to 1/250. ISO 125.
Processed in Lightroom for Clarity and Sharpness.
And I do have a snip of video.
I really liked these!!!!!
Beautiful shots. Such pretty little birds… too bad the coyote decimated the nests! I know ‘they’ say, “Well, the coyote has to eat, too,” but why do they have to eat cute little baby terns?! Or the eggs, for that matter. I say, Let them eat dandelion greens! 😀
I very much enjoy your photos each day, and look forward to them.
These are really great looking captures!!!