Royal Tern Shaking Water Off...

[Joseph Przybyla]

This is a interesting behaviour of terns. If they plunge into the water after a fish and miss, then once in the air they shake and shimmy to dry their wings and feathers. Image captured last Wednesday at Ft. Desoto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida. Comments and critique welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

Nikon D500
Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S ED, image captured at 400mm (600mm 35mm equivalent)
1/3200 F/5.6 Matrix Metering EV 0 ISO 640 Auto 1 WB HH
Post processed in Lightroom Classic, Photoshop CC 2019 and Neat Image for noise reduction
Cropped more than I would like for composition and presentation

[Daniel Cadieux]

The IQ has suffered from the large crop, but I love the behaviour that we can clearly see. Good colours and comp. Hopefully you'll get one doing this from closer :-)

[Paul Burdett]

It's a thumbs up from me Joseph...love the pose and action, and those water droplets! TFS

[Colin Driscoll]

Great light and action, tough shot to get and most often just out of range.

[John Mack]

Love the water drops. Nice light as well. Head does look a little soft.

[Matt Sutherland]

Love it! Especially that closed eye, body position, and the trail of water slinging off the beak. This particular position almost anthropomorphizes the bird. Like a confident smile and eyelids!