Caspian Tern
Hydroprogne caspia
We consider the Caspian Tern the world’s largest tern. Their raspy croaking voice could pass for a sound effect for a pterodactyl in a 1950s Sci-Fi film. These birds have territories on five continents. They take their common name from the Caspian Sea, a region where most of the Eurasian population spend their summers.
Despite their world-wide range, most researchers believe the Caspian Tern is monotypic (i.e. no subspecies).
In North America, most of these birds breed from the Great Lakes in the east, to the sub-arctic prairies of Canada, but on the west coast there are breeding colonies along the lower Columbia River, around the San Francisco Bay and at several Southern California locations, including South San Diego Bay.
I’ve had the privilege of accompanying biologists on their surveys at South San Diego Bay. The tern colonies there include Elegant, Royal, Least, Gull-Billed, Caspian, Forster’s Terns and Black Skimmers. A walk through a tern nesting colony can be hazardous if Caspian Terns are present. These birds will attack from behind and wing-whip intruders, sometimes resulting in blood spills.
While I visited south Texas, I met Caspian Terns in three locations around the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The first was in 2020, at Laguna Atascosa NWR during the first days of the pandemic. Boca Chica Beach, at the mouth of the Rio Grande, was also a productive location for these and other birds. Probably the best place I met Caspian Terns was on South Padre Island in the wetlands south of the Convention Centre.
46 Photos
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Nesting with the Elegant Terns. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:06:03 10:23 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 24 mm, f/8.0, 1/3000 |
File Name: JCD3226.CaspianTern.Chick_ |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: This nest's first hatchling. The 'odd' egg appears to be an abandon Double-Crested Cormorant egg. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:27 10:00 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 460 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD9740.CaspianTern.Egg_.Chick_ |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Caspian Tern Chicks(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Tired chicks ... birth is hard work. Probably one day old with sibling an hour or so old. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:20 10:23 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD9067.CaspianTern.Chick_ |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Caspian Tern Nest(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:20 10:06 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 280 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD8901.CaspianTern.Egg_ |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: With what looks to be a Sand Eel at South San Diego Bay near the Chula Vista Marina. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:08:05 7:10 |
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Location:
J-Street |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: JCD4780.CaspianTern |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: These birds are common at many shoreline locations here. This bird was seen at the beach at Poe Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:06 19:05 |
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Location:
Poe Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD3563.CaspianTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Juggling a meal near Lack & Lindsey Roads. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:13 15:32 |
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Location:
Lack-And-Lindsey-Roads |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X4177-CaspianTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: The fishing was good this day near Lack & Lindsey Roads. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:13 17:13 |
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Location:
Lack-And-Lindsey-Roads |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X8298-CaspianTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: The fishing was good this day near Lack & Lindsey Roads. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:13 17:11 |
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Location:
Lack-And-Lindsey-Roads |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X8277-CaspianTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: The reflection tells the story near Lack & Lindsey Roads. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:13 17:07 |
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Location:
Lack-And-Lindsey-Roads |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X8252-CaspianTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 11:58 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/4 |
File Name: D3X4713-CaspianTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 11:55 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/5 |
File Name: D3X4711-CaspianTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 11:54 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/3 |
File Name: D3X4709-CaspianTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: On the prowl for food near Lack & Lindsey Roads. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:13 15:45 |
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Location:
Lack-And-Lindsey-Roads |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X4248-CaspianTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: On the prowl for food near Lack & Lindsey Roads. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:13 15:35 |
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Location:
Lack-And-Lindsey-Roads |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X4189-CaspianTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Juvenile at the Saltworks. Part of the South San Diego Bay NWR, San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:07:27 9:45 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: JCD1268-CaspianTern-Juvenile |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Hungry chick at the Saltworks. Part of the South San Diego Bay NWR, San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:07:27 13:11 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: JCD1788-CaspianTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: A chick about to emerge from a 'pipped' egg at the Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:27 10:03 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 420 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD9747.CaspianTern.Egg_ |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Veteran's Park by the Link River (a.k.a. Klamath River) in Klamath Falls is a *go-to* destination for me when I'm in Southern Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:17 10:39 |
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Location:
Veterans Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D5X4841-VeteransPark-KlamathFalls |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:05 9:57 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X3385-CaspianTern |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: These terns like to forage where the Klamath River feeds into Lake Ewauna at Veteran's Park in Klamath Falls Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:04 20:22 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X8697-CaspianTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: These terns like to forage where the Klamath River feeds into Lake Ewauna at Veteran's Park in Klamath Falls Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:04 18:10 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X8531-CaspianTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Large chick at the Saltworks. Part of the South San Diego Bay NWR, San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:07:24 8:26 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X0739-CaspianTern-Chick |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Fearlessly guarding the nests at the South San Diego Bay Saltworks in Chula Vista California. Part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:17 9:23 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D5X1356-At-Nest |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Fearlessly guarding the nests at the South San Diego Bay Saltworks in Chula Vista California. Part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:17 9:23 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D5X1353-At-Nest |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Osprey Overlook at Laguna Atascosa provided meetings with birds like these terns. I made an improptu visit to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 14:15 |
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Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/6400 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D506681-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Osprey Overlook at Laguna Atascosa provided meetings with birds like these terns. I made an improptu visit to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 14:15 |
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Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/6400 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D506692-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Osprey Overlook at Laguna Atascosa provided meetings with birds like these terns. I made an improptu visit to Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge on the South Texas Coast on Friday and spent the afternoon meeting birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:20 14:19 |
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Location:
Laguna Atscosa NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D506793-LagunaAtascosa |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Saltworks. Part of the South San Diego Bay NWR, San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:07:24 8:27 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X0748-CaspianTern |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Protesting our presence, with the threat of violence at the South San Diego Bay Saltworks in Chula Vista California. Part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:17 9:16 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D5X1299 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Salton Sea in Imperial County, near Lack and Lindsey Road. Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:16 17:36 |
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Location:
Salton Sea |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D720761-CaspianTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Caspian Terns nest in San Diego and I have met them there. It was nice to find them in Texas as well. My second full day on South Padre Island, Texas was less birdy than my first day, but still I met some great birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:02 9:21 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D501832-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: This Caspian Tern made several passes over the marsh, allowing me to capture a few frames. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:08 13:15 |
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Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D5X1042SouthPadre-WBC |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Caspian Terns exploited the waters of the estuary during my visit. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:27 10:14 |
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Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D5X6897-BocaChicaBeach |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Caspian Tern patrols included trips through the wetlands. My trip to South Padre Island this day started slowly, but picked up nicely before the day finished. The Convention Centre delivered wonderful birds, as it often will. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:16 14:20 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D5X3118-SPI_ConventionCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Even bigger than their cousin Black Skimmers, Caspian Terns also patrol the marsh. Having finished with the Great Texas Birding Classic on Sunday, I was eager to return to South Padre Island, where I knew Green Herons were raising families at the Bird and Nature Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:27 16:08 |
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Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D5X2859_SPI-NatureCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: A Caspian Tern joined the melee when Black Skimmers put on their afternoon show. Tuesday's all day visit to capture images at the SPI Convention Centre was fruitful. The folks I met were great, and the birds were amazing. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:30 16:08 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D5X8775-SPI_ConventionCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Caspian Terns exploited the waters of the estuary during my visit. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:27 10:24 |
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Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D5X7060-BocaChicaBeach |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 15:47 |
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Location:
Discovery Marsh |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D728350-CaspianTern |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: At the South San Diego Bay Saltworks in Chula Vista California. Part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:17 9:20 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 280 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D5X1331 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Along the Southeastern shoreline of the Salton Sea near the intersection of Lack and Lindsey Roads in Imperial County California. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:11 8:18 |
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Location:
Lack-and-Lindsey-Roads |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D5X0312-LackLindsey |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: I drove 20 minutes from Tiny Shores to Midland Ontario, to spend the day at the Wye Marsh Nature Reserve, a place known for its key role in the recovery of Trumpeter Swans. |
Date Taken: 2023:05:19 9:04 |
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Location:
Wye Marsh |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: CaspianTern_Z9X6623_WyeMarsh-Midland-Ont-CA |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: Caspian and Royal Terns were common in the shipping channel near the Convention Center. Last spring I learned how productive South Padre Island can be for birding. This was my first visit in winter and it did not disappoint. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:19 13:15 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D5X3129-SouthPadreIsland |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
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Description: This bird was maneuvering its fishy prey to swallow it. Caspian Terns exploited the waters of the estuary during my visit. I loaded my gear on my bike and rode out on Boca Chica Beach to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where the fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico. Here the chances to meet and observe the dynamic interaction of species are high. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:27 9:56 |
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Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D5X6410-BocaChicaBeach |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
|
Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 15:55 |
|
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D728364-CaspianTern |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
|
Description: At the South San Diego Bay Saltworks in Chula Vista California. Part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:17 9:21 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: CaspianTern_D5X1345 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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