Fairy Terns

[Phoenix]

These birds really are fairy sized. They are becoming quite scarce and it's quite a privilege to see them. The light was very grey, between clouds and smoke haze here.

Fairy tern feeding chick by Joanne, on Flickr

Fairy tern feeding chick by Joanne, on Flickr

Fairy tern feeding chick by Joanne, on Flickr


Fairy tern feeding chick by Joanne, on Flickr

Fairy tern feeding chick by Joanne, on Flickr

Fairy tern feeding chick by Joanne, on Flickr

[seaslug]

Difficult to get them crisp in low light. They look very similar to the terns we get here.

[Phoenix]

If they are fairy terns they are about a quarter of the size of your regular silver gull. Thanks for commenting and looking.

[Mark L]

The fish is interesting.
Good to see things like this (where's the thumbs up thingy?) .Any CC I can offer you already know.

[Phoenix]

Love seeing a fish still wriggling in a beak. Thank you for looking and commenting Mark.

[Isac]

Great story in these wonderful shots Jo. Who cares about the light, when you get rare shots like this? At least there's still fish for them to feed on (for now).

[Phoenix]

Biggest issue where this was taken are people using the area for recreation (windsurfers) and crabbers and the selling off of "estuary side" land. People don't know a fairy tern from a seagull and think it's ok to let their dogs chase birds. Real shame as this is RAMSAR listed area, and next to nothing is being done to preserve the animal inhabitants. Our greedy WA Government would barbecue the last dodo for $$$.

[P Plates]

Nice series Jo. Pity about the light but still tell a good story. I particularly like #3 - looks like a lecture is being delivered.

[Phoenix]

, does too,,,go get me anchovies I'm sick of these white baits.

[Phoenix]

I have been corrected, these two are courting! :-)

[Mark L]

That makes sense. It happens with many birds that the male offers inducements (food) to the female as a way to get that mating thing happening.