Hong Kong’s Tern migration period is peaking, and eight tern species were seen on yesterday’s boat trip. In no particular order, they were: -
Hong Kong breeders (and passage birds)
Roseate
Black-naped
Bridled
and “strictly passing through”
Aleutian
Great Crested
White-winged
Little
Eastern Common
Throw in a couple of hundred Red-necked Phalarope and one close Short-tailed Shearwater, then one has all the ingredients of a memorable day out.
Like this
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| White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus |
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| Short-tailed Shearwater - Ardenna tenuirostris |
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| Short-tailed Shearwater - Ardenna tenuirostris |
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| Short-tailed Shearwater - Ardenna tenuirostris |
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| Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus |
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| Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus |
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| Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus |
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| Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus |
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| Bridled Terns - Onychoprion anaethetus |
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| Aleutian Tern - Onychoprion aleuticus |
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| Aleutian Tern - Onychoprion aleuticus |
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| Common Tern - Sterna hirundo |
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Common Tern - Sterna hirundo
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| White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus |
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White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus
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| White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus (mostly) - note Tuna |
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White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus (mostly)
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| Little Tern - Sternula albifrons |
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| Greater Crested Tern - Thalasseus bergi |
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Greater Crested Tern - Thalasseus bergi
Later on, the weather cleared up, but the terns continued to pass us.... |
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| White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus (mostly) |
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Common Tern - Sterna hirundo (mostly)
And home in time for tea ! |
Nothing quite like a good pelagic, even if it's an inshore pelagic. Memorable I have no doubt, John.
ReplyDeleteThanks, David - comment replies seem to be stuck, anyway all the best
ReplyDeleteWas a fun day and certainly one of the 'birdiest' boat trips I've been on!
ReplyDeleteHi, I sent a comment earlier this morning but cannot see it here, perhaps because I sent it anonymously. Just wanted to say how much I enjoy your always excellent photos, especially those in flight. I am new to birding and related photography and struggle with flight photos, especially small, fast birds (terns, for example).
ReplyDeleteWonder if you can briefly answer some no doubt basic questions (using Canon):
a) focus mode: full screen or smaller?
b) use Dot Sight or similar?
c) reduce focal length to increase viewing area?
Any other brief hints welcome.
Cheers,
Hi Gordon,
ReplyDeleteI’m still using a Canon 1DX Mk2.
For Birds in flight I use just the single central focussing point, on AI Servo. Which auto focus “case” doesn’t seem to make much difference
Most of the time, the birds seem to be too far away, and many of the shots posted here are big crops. I favour fixed length lenses - such as the 500mm f4, but the far cheaper 400mm f5.6 is a pretty good back-up. AND you don’t want the stabiliser when photographing moving objects.
Take lots of photos, and practice, practice
Thanks, John, for this. I use a DSLR, and do have long fixed lens. I'm surprised you say to switch off IS, I thought this was just the type of shooting that needed it!
ReplyDeletePractice, practice, practice, I get it!