A single Royal Tern wandered away from his flock…
and single footedly enjoyed the beach solitude.
Kiawah Beach, SC
October 21, 2022
Royal Tern On His Own
Tag Archives: Royal Tern
Terns, Close Up
Royal Terns took the position closer to the water, or maybe that is what the Skimmers left them.
These Terns are spectacular, too, with their orange beaks and black crown.
The last image is from further back. The sun had peaked out below a cloud bank on the western horizon providing a nice late afternoon light.
They Took to the Air
The tide was coming in so this group of shore birds, mostly Black Skimmers and Royal Terns, had to relocate. It was quite a sight!
Tern: Working His Water Exit
Royal Tern, wings out of the water:
One strong down wing beat:
Pulling up out of the water:
A second strong down wing beat:
The fish catch held in his beak is sticking out on either side of the tern’s body:
A third beat of the wings and tern is fully away from the water with his lunch flapping:
This series was over in two seconds.
Tern: Will Turn for Food
A few Royal Terns have been coming regularly to one of the old rice field ponds to feed. Terns are extremely skillful flyers and I watched two of them for an entertaining 45 minutes, making loops around the pond and occasionally out over the Ashley River.
The terns were constantly turning their heads and changing direction. When they spot a fish in the water they hover.
Then dive!
They go completely under water.
And if all goes well, come up with a fish!
Up and away!
Interestingly, the two terns then flew together out over the river. They got too far away to tell if the fishless bird was trying to steal the meal or if they were sharing.
Royal Terns
These Royal Terns were on the edge of the Black Skimmer flock we watched on Wednesday, also on a stopover on their migration I think.
Once they were on the sand bar they stayed huddled in their own group, the wind blowing their top knots around.
Click on photo for larger view.