Common Tern in Aerial combat

PeterD-2009

I work as a volunteer Warden at the Oysterbed wildlife site on Hayling Island and have the fortune to look after the nesting Tern for about 3 months in the year.
I thought I would post the following images of an aerial display put on by two competing males. One male had made the east shore of their lagoon its own hunting place for crab and small fish. The other tried to 'muscle in' and this resulted in the following.

The first encounter















The result of this combat was a draw. Both birds accepted that they would have to split the shoreline in two, each 'owning' one half. To make this point, they landed on rocks at the waters edge, spent about 5 minutes 'shouting' at each other and finally resumed fishing without further conflict.

Hope these images amuse you. Comments etc welcome as always.

Giphsub

Great action set Peter. You are fortunate to have the opportunity to look after the nests! Thanks for sharing.

Maestro

I agree with Mike....great action....cool mid-air poses you captured.

PeterD-2009

Thank you Stephen and Mike. I appreciate your kind comments.

Mike, I really enjoy this work. If you have the opportunity to stay with the birds at close quarters they reward you with the opportunity to see their behaviour in a totally natural setting and they accept you as part of the setting and not a threat.

Harryb

Marvelous set Peter. I hope that anyone viewing thtese images understand how difficult it is to capture multiple subjects who are moving fast. Extremely difficult captures done very well.

PeterD-2009

Harryb wrote: »

Marvelous set Peter. I hope that anyone viewing thtese images understand how difficult it is to capture multiple subjects who are moving fast. Extremely difficult captures done very well.

Thank you Harry - I take that as a great compliment. I cannot hope to compete with some of the exceptional images here on 'Wildlife'. I have learnt a lot from viewing other peoples images and I am determined to get the best I can from my equipment. You and others who have commented on this and my other submissions have given me great encouragement - Thank you all.

Cousin Madness

Great work Peter, fast shutter finger and a good AF system. You have some great keepers there.


Martin.

PeterD-2009

Cousin Madness wrote: »

Great work Peter, fast shutter finger and a good AF system. You have some great keepers there.


Martin.

Thank you Martin. These were all taken with the Olympus E3 and Sigma 50-500. The equipment did most of the work. It was hard though to keep the birds in the focus window:D at 500mm focal length.

NorthernFocus

Nicely done. What a great way to spend your time !

PeterD-2009

NorthernFocus wrote: »

Nicely done. What a great way to spend your time !

Thank you Dan.
Been working there again today but with low pressure almost overhead, we had wind and rain which is a potentially a deadly enemy for the chicks. The down is not waterproof and the cold overnight could cause fatalities. The Black-headed gull chicks are particularly vulnerable as they are too big now to be protected from the elements by the adults.
The Common Tern, Little Tern and Oystercatcher chicks have recently hatched and their parents should protect them.

WhatSheSaw

Wow! Great set. Thanks for sharing!

grimace

Awesome set!!

PeterD-2009

Thank you WhatSheSaw and Adam. I appreciate your kind comments.