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Birding in Costa Ballena: A close encounter with the Little Tern

As the end of summer is getting closer, I wanted to take advantage of this beautiful day to experiment with the remote shutter release in a spot where I know the Kingfisher often perches. I wasn't sure though if it would come along on a hot afternoon. When I arrived I was a little distracted by the presence of several White-headed Ducks, of which I took several close-to-the-ground shots. That only took me a couple of minutes, and I had barely put my little stool in a good position when a Kingfisher arrived!



Little Tern surfacing after a spectacular dive
Little Tern surfacing after a spectacular dive

I was too surprised however to react quickly as it dived into the water to catch a little fish and flew away past me. It didn't give me the chance to test out the shutter release, something that I might first want to try out with a more predictable species.


Female Kingfisher
Female Kingfisher

Male White-headed Duck in the water
Male White-headed Duck

Male White-headed Duck


Male White-headed Duck in the water


White-headed Duck in the water


White-headed Duck in the water

Shortly after the Kingfisher had left, I was visited by a pair of Common Waxbills.



Common Waxbill
Common Waxbill

Common Waxbill

It was then time to take some photos of a colony of Cattle Egrets, that were first gathering on the grass and then decided to move up a tree.



Cattle Egrets on the grass
Cattle Egrets

Cattle Egrets


Two Cattle Egrets in flight


A massive colony of Cattle Egrets in a tree
A massive colony

Litlle Egret
A dinosaur-like Little Egret

Lttle Egret
The same bird telling me to mind my own business

Little Egret standing in the water
Wonder what this Cattle Egret was saying...

Common Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper

After a short break, I then moved to the other artificial lake, where another whole lot of birds were waiting to be photographed.



Ruddy Turnstone in the grass
Ruddy Turnstone

Common Greenshank
Common Greenshank

Common Pochards in flight
Common Pochards

Greylag Geese in flight
Greylag Geese

Black-winged Stilt in flight
Black-winged Stilt

Black-headed Gull floating on the water
Black-headed Gull

Little Egret in a tree
Little Egret in its favourite tree

Little Egret in the final stages of landing
Another Little Egret in the final stages of landing

Little Egret


Little Egret


Two Little Egrets in a tree
Joining his mates in the tree

Before photographing some diving Little Terns, I first practiced a little on more slowly flying gulls.



Gull in flight


Gull picking up a piece of bread in the water


Gull flying over the water

And after the easy gulls, a bigger challenge: diving Little Terns! Without a doubt one of the hardest shots to take.



Little Tern in flight
Still relatively easy when they fly by so calmly

Little Tern in flight
Things get harder against a cluttered background

Little Tern diving
One of many dives

Little Tern in the water
One of many splashes

Little Tern in the water


Little Tern


Little Tern


Little Tern



Little Tern
Another successful dive

Little Tern

I'd say there was a dive every three to five minutes, but it is extremely difficult to take a sharp photo in the exactly correct moment. Looking forward to the next attempt!

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