Tern in flight

[Kerry Perkins]

I believe this is a Common Tern, someone please correct me if I'm wrong. :cool:

Captured at Malibu Lagoon in the fading evening light. These birds are pretty difficult to capture as anyone who has tried will verify! I have taken hundreds of shots and only have a handful of keepers, as the wind, light, and flight pattern all have to stack up in your favor.

Comments appreciated as always...

7D, EF400mm f/5.6L
Manual mode, f/5.6@1/3200 ISO 400 WB 5100K
AI Servo autofocus, hand-held no flash

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Kerry,

Greetings. Looks like you got a keeper here... sharp detail, good HA and comp (to my eye). I see some artifact (from sharpening?) on the edges of the shadow part of the far wing... both front and back edges.

I'm no expert but I'd be guessing Elegant Tern. Most of the tern's I've seen in Calif. are either Forster's or Elegant (some fewer Least)... for Elegant Terns best to identify once they've landed so that the head feathers aren't swept back.

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Indranil Sircar]

Beautifully captured, Kerry. Exposure looks good. I too think it is an Elegant Tern.

[Doug Brown]

That's an Elegant Tern Kerry. Nicely captured I might add! I might back off on the blue in the sky just a little.

[Kerry Perkins]

Thanks for comments and the ID help everyone!

[Bob Miller]

Hi kerry! beautiful capture of a difficult subject....love the eye and the whites look good....wing position is nice! I agree that the sky looks a bit too saturated