Wednesday 3 February 2016

Wild Bird Wednesday 184 - Sooty Tern

I have a great deal happening here today - so I am just going to put up a gallery of images of Sooty Terns (Sterna fuscata) and let them do the talking.

As has been the case for a while these images were taken on Lord Howe Island.  The small chicks were taken in mid-novemeber and the larger immature birds in the second week of January.  Even my kids don't grow that fast!













Now it's over to you to join in - click the blue button and off you go.  SM

37 comments:

  1. Hello Stewart, the tern species is one of my favorites. These Sooty Terns are very pretty. I love the shots of the chicks. Great post and photos. Thanks for hosting, enjoy your week ahead!

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  2. pretty birds and cute youngsters. :)

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  3. Wonderful intimate portraits of the terns' lives!

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  4. Love the mask on these guys! Very nice photos, Stewart!

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  5. Lovely shots. Most of our aviaries near Tampa are on islands which forbid human passage. Black Skimmers breed off of a popular beach...they rope off a small area for them, but I don't see how the birds cope with all the gawkers. Wonderful you could get so close to these younglings.

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  6. I love the hovering bird shots. You're never too busy for Wednesday. Thank goodness for the rest of us.

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  7. They are so pretty and I love the babies, very cute. Diane

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  8. wat een mooie serie is dit weer geworden ik zit heerlijk te genieten.

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  9. Hi Stewart, breathtaking images as always. And I love terns. Thanks for hosting this meme. I'll link up tomorrow (Wednesday in South Africa) Have a great day. Jo

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  10. The first 2 photos almost look as if the terns have little black jackets on.

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  11. Beautiful birds and photos as always! Love the baby chicks!

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  12. Fantastic photography, Stewart! These terns are some very nice looking birds, the fuzzy chicks are adorable.

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  13. Amazing images of the adults feeding their young.

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  14. The Terns all have such a distinctive look. These are handsome birds and the babies and juveniles are as awesome in their more muted coloring. Isn't it amazing how quickly the wild birds grow. They hatch and then by the time they fledge, they are as big or bigger than the parents. Nature sure doesn't waste any time getting those babies out to do what they are meant to do. This is a beautiful series and I am thinking your trip to Lord Howe Island had to be the best ever ... maybe I should add that to my bucket list :) Be well, Stewart ...

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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  15. That wonderful Island is just a gift that keeps on giving -- thanks so much for sharing these wonders with us. They are very different from any terns I've ever seen in coloring and yet I think I would have known they were some type of tern.

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  16. Great photos. Love the ones in flight.

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  17. Beautiful images. So nice to see the little ones.

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  18. Lovely pictures. I think the closest I'll get to see them is to go to the Dry Tortugas or Hawaii.

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  19. Beautiful images. Thanks for sharing :)

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  20. When we're at the beach, they and the Pelicans are among my favs, along with those little Plovers!!...:)JP

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  21. Stewart, great photos. Thanks for sharing.

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  22. Love the "tuxedo" coloring of this bird..Very striking...Cute baby pics..Great in flight photos...

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  23. They are fantastic pictures of all the different chick stages.

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  24. Hello Stewart!:) It's a stylish bird, and you made some beautiful captures of the mature Terns feeding the chicks.Glad you were also able to photograph the attractive juveniles.

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  25. They really look alot different when they grow up,thanks for hosting,have a happy rest of the week!phyllis

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  26. Lovely close up photos Stewart. The chicks are just so cute & sweet. Beautiful

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  27. Oh oh, babies! How sweet! The other pictures are great too.

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  28. Wow, Stewart!! These are fabulous!! I've photographed Terns many times but I've never managed to photograph chicks or immatures. I guess I'm never in the right place at the right time.

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  29. Beautiful photos Stewart!
    That little fluff ball baby is so cute.

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  30. Terrific series, Stewart! It is pretty amazing how quickly the young birds grow. Must be all that fresh seafood.

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