12th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Elegant Tern in Flight Chasing Dropped 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. In one case, after diving in and catching a fish, a tern flew off with its catch, but then dropped it in mid-air. Here, the tern is chasing down the dropped fish to catch it again!
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 |