Tern #2 (Least or Forster's?)

[Brendan Dozier]

Here's another image of the same tern from my last post. Hopefully this will help in determining whether it is a Least or Forster's Tern. Overcast morning, at local lake (did not mention this was at lake on last post). Its actions were to circle large area, hover and then dive. ACR, CS5, NR, sharpening.

7D, EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM +2.0x
1/5000
5.6
ISO 800

C & C welcome & appreciated,

- Brendan

[Dan Brown]

This is what I would call a hatch year Forster's Tern. Head, bill, underwing and leg/feet color all look like Forster's. Least HY birds shouldn't have the strong dark under-primary (longest flight feather) and would either have yellowish (juv.) or black legs (lst summer). But, I've been wrong before and terns are tough.

[Paul Guris]

I agree with Dan on the ID and age.

[Joel Eade]

I don't know the species but I like the shot, it has a gentle soft feel to it alot like a painting.

Did you experiment with other crops?

I'm not sure if I like the square crop or not.

[Brendan Dozier]

Thanks, Dan & Paul, after looking online some more, I think you are probably right about it being a Forster's Tern.

Thanks, Joel. I'm not really thrilled about the crop myself, but was trying to keep it out of center and keep some extra room on Rt in the direction of its line of sight. Tried a more vertical one, but it felt too centered and also still kind of square. Could go tighter, but already a good crop down as is, and not the best IQ.

[Kerry Perkins]

Good job Brendan, the terns are a real challenge to capture nicely. I personally like the overcast look with a white bird, makes a nice image. I would add canvas to the right and down, putting the tern in the upper left corner. Not radically, just a bit maybe. Then you could run another round of sharpening. Like it!