Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

12th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Elegant Rising from the Water with Fish

Many egrets, cormorants and terns were fishing at a water inlet pipe near the shoreline, and all three species were regularly catching fish, crabs and other food. Several of the terns flew a “circuit” and hovered above the pipe outlet for a few moments, often diving into the water to grab a fish. Here, a tern has grabbed his fish and is starting to fly up off the water surface with his catch, with water spraying everywhere.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2014
Date Uploaded: 11.2014
Photo Location: Mountain View, California, United States of America
Camera: NIKON D4S
Copyright: © Mike Anderson