Elegant Tern
Thalasseus elegans
Until 1959, the aptly named Elegant Tern did not breed north of the Gulf of California, and over 90% of all Elegant Terns nested in the gulf on Isla Raza. The first known nesting of this species in the United States was 1959 in San Diego Bay. 2003 saw the colony’s population spike to over 10,000 birds breeding successfully at the Saltworks (part of the South San Diego Bay NWR). In 2009, nearly double that figure nested there. In 2018, 24,000 Elegant Terns nested at the Saltworks. A lot rests on ocean currents and the movement of bait fish as to just how successful these colonies are.
Unlike most migrating birds, Elegant Terns disburse north as far as British Columbia after nesting. They later will head south for the winter, some traveling as far as Peru and Chile.
Researchers believe Elegant Terns are monotypic (i.e. no subspecies).
When accompanying biologists on their surveys of the Saltworks nesting sites in the San Diego Bay NWR, words cannot describe the experience. It overwhelms the senses. Sights, sounds, and yes, even smells are beyond description.
Elegant Terns nest in densely packed mobs along the top of the dikes that separate the evaporation ponds of the salt manufacturing facility. These dikes are long, and when the team reaches the nest site, thousands of birds rise in loud protest, hovering overhead while the team counts the nests and eggs. The adult birds don’t leave the area, so it’s like walking through a beehive. As soon as the team finishes counting the site’s population, the members move on to the next nesting location, and the birds settle back onto their treasures.
48 Photos
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Bringing in the groceries. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:08:05 10:04 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD5621.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Nesting in the Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. |
Date Taken: 2003:03:28 8:24 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A3E28F09-ElegantTern |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: This composite image was used on the back cover of the SD County Bird Atlas. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Siego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2003:05:28 8:22 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: |
File Name: A3E28c10ElegantTern-ColonyDownTown |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Images can't fully express the experience of a walk through an Elegant Tern colony. The sights, sounds & smells are unforgettable. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:20 10:27 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 320 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD9090.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Egg field at the Saltworks. South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:20 10:20 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 280 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD9053.ElegantTern.Egg_ |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:20 10:18 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD9022.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Images can't fully express the experience of a walk through an Elegant Tern colony. The sights, sounds & smells are unforgettable. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:20 10:14 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 400 mm, f/6.3, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD8964.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Images can't fully express the experience of a walk through an Elegant Tern colony. The sights, sounds & smells are unforgettable. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:20 10:09 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 280 mm, f/6.3, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD8928.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:20 10:03 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD8897.ElegantTern.Egg_ |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:20 10:03 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/1500 |
File Name: JCD8895.ElegantTern.Egg_ |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Bringing in the groceries. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:08:05 12:35 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD6081.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Bringing in the groceries. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:08:05 12:33 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD6066.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:08:05 12:28 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD6042.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 12:31 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/5 |
File Name: D3X4725-ElegantTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Hungry nestlings are waiting at the Saltwoks; part of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge system. San Diego County California USA 2009-08-05. |
Date Taken: 2009:08:15 12:38 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD5590.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Bringing in the groceries. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:08:05 9:49 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD5527.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Bringing in the groceries. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:08:05 9:32 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000 |
File Name: JCD5373.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Juvenile at the Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:08:05 9:24 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/5000 |
File Name: JCD5344.ElegantTern.Juvenile |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Bringing in the groceries to feed a hungry juvenile at the Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:29 11:44 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: JCD4342.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Bringing in the groceries to feed a hungry juvenile at the Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:29 11:18 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/22.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD4269.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:06:03 13:50 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD3439.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Images can't fully express the experience of a walk through an Elegant Tern colony. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:06:03 11:04 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 24 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: JCD3305.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Studying food items while counting eggs, chicks & nests. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:06:03 10:20 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 24 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD3202.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Counting eggs, chicks & nests. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:06:03 10:08 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 24 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: JCD3107.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: For some reason this image reminds me of an Andrew Wyeth painting. Science in action. Each year, during breeding season, eggs, and nests are counted on a weekly basis. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:27 14:07 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 24 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD3009.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Some years, tens of thousands of Elegant Terns nest at the Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:27 14:05 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 280 mm, f/9.0, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD0274.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
|
Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 12:35 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/4 |
File Name: D3X4728-ElegantTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
|
Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 12:34 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/3 |
File Name: D3X4727-ElegantTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Hungry nestlings are waiting at the Saltwoks; part of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge system. San Diego County California USA 2009-08-05. |
Date Taken: 2009:08:15 12:22 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD5579.ElegantTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: The Saltwoks; part of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge system. San Diego County California USA 2009-08-05. |
Date Taken: 2009:08:15 15:27 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD6032.ElegantTern.Juvenile.crop_ |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Parent feeding juvenile at the beach by Border Field and the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:02 11:00 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X1185-ElegantTern |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:09:08 10:07 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X8677-ElegantTern |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: The beach by Border Field and the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:23 10:19 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X1810-ElegantTern |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: New chicks found during Tern survey day at the Saltworks, part of the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. Near Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:07:08 13:05 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/9.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X2632-ElegantTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: The border fence is visable in the background. Our beach at the border with Mexico can be a productive place to meet birdlife. Imperial Beach, California in San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 15:11 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: ElegantTern_D5X9232-BorderField |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Disturbed by the patrolling Border Agent, these loafing bird picked up from the sandy beach and flew past me. Our beach at the border with Mexico can be a productive place to meet birdlife. Imperial Beach, California in San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 14:58 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: ElegantTern_D5X8568-BorderField |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Juvenile bird waiting to be fed on a tern survey day at the Saltworks, part of the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. Near Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:08:05 12:19 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X2906-ElegantTern-Juvenile |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Our beach at the border with Mexico can be a productive place to meet birdlife. Imperial Beach, California in San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 15:00 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: ElegantTern_D5X8736-BorderField |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
|
Description: Disturbed by the patrolling Border Agent, these loafing bird picked up from the sandy beach and flew past me. Our beach at the border with Mexico can be a productive place to meet birdlife. Imperial Beach, California in San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 14:58 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: ElegantTern_D5X8582-BorderField |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
|
Description: Disturbed by the patrolling Border Agent, these loafing bird picked up from the sandy beach and flew past me. Our beach at the border with Mexico can be a productive place to meet birdlife. Imperial Beach, California in San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 14:58 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: ElegantTern_D5X8578-BorderField |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Bathing beauties. Seen during Tern survey day at the Saltworks, part of the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. Near Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:07:08 12:36 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/11.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X2558-ElegantTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: This chick was found during a tern survey day at the Saltworks, part of the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. Near Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:07:08 13:09 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X2683-ElegantTern-Chick |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Juvenile at the beach by Border Field and the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:02 11:09 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X1230-ElegantTern |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
|
Description: The beach by Border Field and the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:02 11:09 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X1224-ElegantTern |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
|
Description: Juvenile at the beach by Border Field and the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:02 11:04 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: D3X1210-ElegantTern |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
|
Description: Tern survey day at the Saltworks, part of the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. Near Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:08:05 11:11 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X2794-ElegantTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Bringing fish prey to feed hungrey chicks. Tern survey day at the Saltworks, part of the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. Near Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:08:05 11:09 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X2788-ElegantTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Elegant Tern(Thalasseus elegans) |
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Description: Loafing post-breeding terns. Our beach at the border with Mexico can be a productive place to meet birdlife. Imperial Beach, California in San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 14:49 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: ElegantTern_D5X8461-BorderField |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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