These birds are Grey Ternlets - Procelsterna cerulea. The images of this bird in my field guide do not do it justice, as it is shown with a rather bulky beak, and while you can see hints of this in my pictures I think the bird looks rather graceful. In fact, the way these birds have been captured here reminds me of swifts.
Theses birds are small - although not the smallest terns - at about 28cm long. Unfortunately they are classed as endangered, although there were good numbers of them around the pyramid.
This final, and rather cropped shot, shows a flock of these birds which managed to always stay just too far from the boat - although the picture does show the 'compact flocks dip and flutter over surface near breeding islands' that is also mentioned in my guide book.
And now you know what comes next - click the blue button and off you go.
As a special favour to me, could you try to think of 1 or 2 bloggers who would be able to post here and invite them along - it would be good to start 2016 with a bang! Cheers SM
Hello, Stewart, I have never heard of a Ternlet. They are pretty birds, I think your photos are great from a moving boat. Thank you for hosting, enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteStewart, those little terns are beautiful...so graceful. Your bird guide should se your photos instead of the unflattering picture they have!
ReplyDeleteGreat looking birds! Love the pointed wings and those fan-shaped tails!
ReplyDeleteflying birds hard to photograph, but tons of fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Stewart! An interesting species, and too funny about actually being too close that you had to zoom out. All the best for 2016!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to capture wildlife from a boat, great job!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and delicate little birds. I wonder if their habit of flocking so densely may put them at risk of a common catastrophe, as contributed to the demise of the Passenger Pigeons.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! Always enjoy your photos / birds. So different form my backyard list. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! Thanks for hosting!
They really are stunning terns.
ReplyDeleteHi Stewart, I have never heard of a ternlet! What awesome images as always. I'm sorry they're classed as endangered. Thanks for hosting this meme. I'm linking up tomorrow (Wednesday) when my post goes live. Greetings. Jo
ReplyDeletethey are lovely flyers!
ReplyDeleteYou always get the best shots of birds in flight!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful ternlets and your photos show them as very graceful in flight. This is another one I would like to see!
ReplyDeleteJust a beautiful water bird! Love it's graceful lines. Great shots even from a rocking boat!
ReplyDeleteYou did manage to get great shots of these Gray Ternlets (Another bird I've never heard of). I don't know how you do it, though! I can barely get some shots on solid ground! Thanks for hosting and sharing your birds with us.
ReplyDeleteI agree. These birds do look very graceful and you did a good job photographing them from a moving boat. Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots under the circumstances. A nose looking bird too.
ReplyDeleteLove the bird....and especially the panoramic scene of them in flight over the water!
ReplyDeleteLove these in flight shots, beautiful, Diane
ReplyDeleteIt could almost make a tongue-twister "A bit of a bird with a bulky beak by the back of the boat". They do look very much like our swallows mainly because of their forked tails, but they do also have a beauty of their own. Sad that such a beautiful bird is so endangered. As always you have captured wonderful pictures even though you may have missed what you thought might be the best shot (Having missed many of my own, I can appreciate the feeling). Seems to me that 2016 is off to a great start :)
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From The Sol
In the third shot, he looks like an Olympian diver doing a #10 swan dive. These are wonderful. How in the world so you shoot such fine pictures from a bobbling boat?
ReplyDeleteVery graceful in flight.
ReplyDeleteFreedom, pure freedom....
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of a "Ternlet"..great shots Stewart...I'll see what I can do about finding "new blood" but we seem to have a lot of the same followers...You, way more than I...Hope you are having a good week..
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Stewart! Great flight shots of these birds!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots of lovely little birds. I so enjoy all the unusual -to- me birds you have introduced me to in your blog. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteLove seeing them in flight!
ReplyDeleteBoa tarde, gostei de conhecer esta pela pagina, as fotos são de excelência a congelar o movimento, são belas com qualidade.
ReplyDeleteAG
Interesting birds and stunning photos.
ReplyDeleteThe pix are super but I really love the close ups so I can see their tails!...:)JP
ReplyDeleteWow what great photos! If you come across too many wild birds, check out bird removal NJ
ReplyDeleteGreat shots
ReplyDeletea beautiful bird I have yet to see. And, I recognize your situation. Happened to me a few times too.
ReplyDeleteThese Grey Ternlets look so graceful. I tried to catch dolphin shots from a small boat on windy water a few years ago, so I have an idea of the challenges. Same thing, too, with one that came so close, my big lens was too much. You did great with these.
ReplyDelete