Forster’s Tern
Sterna forsteri
We see Forster’s Terns in southern California year-round, including the breeding season. Their breeding range extends throughout many locations in the intermountain western USA and the southern prairies of Canada. These birds are nearly exclusive to the North American continent all year.
In San Diego County, we find them nesting along the shoreline of South San Diego Bay, but most Forster’s Terns migrate north to the northern Great Basin region or to the northern prairies and the upper Mississippi valley, where they seek open water marshes to nest and raise their babies. Some birds remain on territory year-round in coastal areas of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts of the USA.
Forster’s Tern populations, like other species dependent on prairie marsh lands, have suffered from habitat loss and degradations from agricultural development, and the draining of wetlands, though their numbers haven’t dropped as dramatically as other species.
I’ve enjoyed meeting these graceful birds in many locations throughout the Western USA, from California to the Great Basin at Malheur NWR (Oregon), in Utah at the Great Salt Lake, in southern Nevada, and on the Texas Gulf Coast from Galveston to Boca Chica Beach and the mouth of the Rio Grande.
Scientists studying Forster’s Terns regard them as monotypic (i.e. no subspecies).
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Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Foraging at the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2011:07:07 9:28 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: JCD0862-ForstersTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Foraging at the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2011:07:07 9:15 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: Cut_JCD0764-ForstersTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Chicks waiting for parents. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Siego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:27 17:15 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A3G26c37-ForstersTern-Chicks |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Forster's Terns build more of a structure than do their neighbors here. This nest sports a dead fish! Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:27 11:02 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 280 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD9850.ForstersTern.Egg_ |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Forster's Terns build more of a structure than do their neighbors here. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:27 11:01 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 490 mm, f/5.6, 1/750 |
File Name: JCD9846.ForstersTern.Egg_ |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:17 11:53 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD8577.ForstersTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Foraging at the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2011:07:07 9:44 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: JCD0956-ForstersTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Foraging at the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2011:07:07 9:36 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: JCD0916-ForstersTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: At their nest in South San Diego Bay. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:04:15 7:28 |
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Location:
South San Diego Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/11.0, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD0909ForstersTern |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Foraging at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:01:22 13:12 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X0536-ForstersTern-FirstWinter |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Foraging at the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2011:07:07 9:15 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: JCD0764-ForstersTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Unlike most terns, Forster's Terns build a rudimentary nest. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:06:03 9:35 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/9.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD0409.ForstersTern.Egg_ |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:27 13:04 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD0180.ForstersTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: The Tijuana River Valley Regional Park, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:18 7:56 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/6400 |
File Name: D3X7491-ForstersTern |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Foraging at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:01:22 13:13 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X0556-ForstersTern-FirstWinter |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: First year bird seen 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 8:49 |
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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: ForstersTern-FirstYear_D5X0545-LackLindsey |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Tern survey day at the Saltworks, part of the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. Near Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:07:08 11:52 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/13.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X2474-ForstersTern-1 |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Tern survey day at the Saltworks, part of the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. Near Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:07:08 11:48 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/9.0, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X2458-ForstersTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: High tide on South San Diego Bay at 7th Street and Chula Vista Bayfront Park. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 7:12 |
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Location:
Bay Front Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/40.0, 1/640 |
File Name: ForstersTern-Flock_D5X7436-BayFrontPark |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: The bills of Forster's Terns are supposed to be orange with a black tip. It took a close look at the image to see that it was mud on this birds bill that gave it an odd coloration. Viewed from the edge of the marshes at South San Diego Bay near 7th Street in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:15 7:38 |
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Location:
7th Street Overlook |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: ForstersTern_D5X1061 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Viewed from the edge of the marshes at South San Diego Bay near 7th Street in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:15 7:22 |
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Location:
7th Street Overlook |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: ForstersTern_D5X0827 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Viewed from the edge of the marshes at South San Diego Bay near 7th Street in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:15 7:32 |
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Location:
7th Street Overlook |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: ForstersTern_D5X0927 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Southeastern shore of the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:07:26 10:16 |
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Location:
Salton Sea |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X6650-ForstersTern |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Southeastern shore of the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:07:26 10:14 |
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Location:
Salton Sea |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X6639-ForstersTern |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: The Tijuana River Mouth, Imperial Beach, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:06:13 7:37 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X9344-ForstersTern |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Flying high over our boat, this tern was probably looking for somewhere to hunt small fish. My third day of exploration of Aransas NWR was a memorable one. I boarded the tour boat the "Skimmer" and got schooled by Captain Tommy Moore on a three plus hour cruise of the back-bays and waterways beyond the view of the public from the tour roads on the reserve. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 10:57 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: ForstersTern_D503726-BoatRide-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in Camarillo, California USA 2011-11-01. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 13:25 |
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Location:
Western Foundation of Vertebrate |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/1 |
File Name: ForstersTern_D3X4746-Eggs |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson Nevada is comprised of nine ponds owned by the city's Waste Water Treatment Facility, but managed by nature lovers. It is the premiere birding location in southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:13 8:07 |
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Location:
Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: ForstersTern_D5X3000-Henderson-BVP |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is a large wetland delta where the Bear River terminates in the Great Salt Lake. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:16 10:43 |
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Location:
Bear River Managment Area |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: ForstersTern_D5X4491-BearRiver |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Birds at the Narrows. Malheur NWR is in southeastern Oregon, west of Steens Mountains and south of Burns Oregon. Harney County. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:30 12:15 |
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Location:
Narrows |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: ForstersTern_D5X9137-MalheurNWR |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: With fresh caught fish prey at Malheur NWR in southeastern Oregon, west of Steens Mountains and south of Burns Oregon. Harney County. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:30 12:24 |
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Location:
Narrows |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: ForstersTern_D5X9153-MalheurNWR |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Juveniles begging to be fed at Malheur NWR in southeastern Oregon, west of Steens Mountains and south of Burns Oregon. Harney County. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:30 12:24 |
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Location:
Narrows |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: ForstersTern_D5X9166-MalheurNWR |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Malheur NWR is in southeastern Oregon, west of Steens Mountains and south of Burns Oregon. Harney County. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:30 12:29 |
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Location:
Narrows |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: ForstersTern_D5X9215-MalheurNWR |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: First year bird seen 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 8:35 |
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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: ForstersTern-FirstYear_D5X0392-LackLindsey |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: The beach at Border Field, south of Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:13 9:09 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X0048-ForstersTern |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Forster’s Terns are buoyant flyers when foraging, and can be a challenge to capture their images. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:30 8:53 |
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Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: ForstersTern_D5X6694-BocaChicaBeach |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Forster’s Terns are buoyant flyers when foraging, and can be a challenge to capture their images as they prepare a plunge dive. I rode my bike to the southern end of Boca Chica Beach and enjoyed meeting the foraging birds at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This is the east-most border of Texas and Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:30 8:22 |
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Location:
Boca Chica Beach |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: ForstersTern_D5X6156-BocaChicaBeach |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: Forster’s Terns fished and loafed near the sheltered waters near the over-built Tiki Island. On Wednesday (2021-03-03) I drove from Aransas NWR to Galveston. I pulled off the freeway at Tiki Island, where it was my good fortune to meet a Coast Warden for Texas Audubon, as he was loading his boat onto its trailer. He was generous enough to offer to take me with him on his rounds to monitor nesting islands in West Bay the next day. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:04 13:17 |
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Location:
Tiki Island |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 280 mm, f/7.1, 1/8000 |
File Name: ForstersTern_D509732-Tiki-Island_Galveston-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: The only tern I saw during my visit was this Forster’s Tern. I drove this Wednesday to Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, but found its gates locked, so as a consolation prize, I continued to San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, where I found birds that hadn’t left Texas yet for the winter. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:10 11:36 |
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Location:
San Bernard NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: ForstersTern_D5X1686-SanBernard_NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
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Description: I enjoyed watching immature and adult Forster’s Terns making nearby splash-dives. 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 9:51 |
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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: ForstersTern_D5X6235-BocaChicaBeach |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
|
Description: I enjoyed watching immature and adult Forster’s Terns making nearby splash-dives. 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 9:50 |
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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: ForstersTern_D5X6184-BocaChicaBeach |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
|
Description: I enjoyed watching immature and adult Forster’s Terns making nearby splash-dives. 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 9:51 |
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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: ForstersTern_D5X6233-BocaChicaBeach |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
|
Description: I enjoyed watching immature and adult Forster’s Terns making nearby splash-dives. 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 9:48 |
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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: ForstersTern_D5X6126-BocaChicaBeach |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Forster's Tern(Sterna forsteri) |
|
Description: Tern survey day at the Saltworks, part of the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. Near Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:07:08 11:52 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/13.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X2474-ForstersTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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