Up close with Arctic Terns on the Farnes..............
Sometimes they were a little too close.................my wife took this picture of me being brutally assaulted.
Not only did they deliver mildly painful pecks they crapped all over me. Luckily the rough seas meant most of it was washed off on the eay back to shore but still..................
I tried to get some nice BIFs but they were just too close most of the time. Again, lots of out of focus shots to be culled from my hard drives..............
I'm not sure but I think these individuals may be Common Terns.............the bill seems longer and has a black tip anyway.
Terns were the birds of the trip.............in Tokyo, Preston and here in Northumberland too.
Was this on Farne Island Stuart? I am always amazing that they allow people to walk through a breeding tern colony but you certainly got great shots. My favoutie is no 2. I am off to Great Saltee isladn this weekend, off Wexford so am excited as I have never been before.
ReplyDeleteHi Margaret, yes it was on the Farnes and for 2 or 3 hours a day during breeding season they allow visitors to land........................
DeleteNever heard of Great Saltee, hope it is similar to the Farnes (take a hat if it is!)
Excellent pictures, Stu. Terns are elegant birds.
ReplyDeleteHi Russell, it's a real shame they are so scarce up in Hokkaido.................
DeleteI hadn't realized that Arctic Terns were quite so defensive.
ReplyDeleteMe neither and I should have worn a hat made from materila that wasn't so easy to peck through......................
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