For the Alt #BirdoftheDay theme today, here is an #Urban beach scene involving a whole lot of #RoyalTerns and a few #LaughingGulls.
The main theme is #OddCouples, two different birds in one capture.
Wishing you a lovely Tuesday💫
#TidesOutTuesday #ColorADay #BlueTue #EastCoastKin
#Florida
Royal Terns' mating ritual with fish presentation #openbeak for #birdoftheday #openwings as well
#FortClinch FL
#birds #nature #wildlife #naturephotography #terns #royalterns #wildlifephotography
#BirdOfTheDay theme for today is #favoriteofthemonth. I call this photo “One Wrong Tern”. #birds #royalterns #terns #VeroBeachFL
2 Royal Terns, one standing sideways to the left, and the other facing the camera with its beak open in protest, stand in shallow blue sunlit-glinting water. Their reflections and shadows appear beneath them.
Two #RoyalTerns, one of whom is not too happy with me, for #BirdoftheDay #BlackandWhite
#TwosDay #TidesOutTuesday #AnimalArtTuesday #ColorADay #BlueTue #EastCoastKin #birds #birding #photography #photographersofbluesky
Royal Terns
with one juvenile begging parent for food
#birds #wildlife #photography #audubon #nature #naturephotography #birdnerd #wildlife #natgeowild #bbcwildlife #bbcearth #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #blueskyartshow #planetbirds #bestbirdshots #lynzieflynn #birdsoftheworld #royalterns
"The image captures a fleeting moment of grace and motion as a flock of shorebirds passes over a calm body of water. In the foreground, royal terns glide with elegance—slender seabirds with pale bodies, sharp orange beaks, and black crests swept back like windblown crowns. Their wings are long and pointed, slicing through the air with precision, each bird suspended mid-flight in a posture of effortless command. Behind them, black skimmers trail in formation—lower to the water, darker in plumage, and unmistakable with their elongated lower mandibles glowing orange-red. Their flight is purposeful and low, as if skimming the surface for secrets. The contrast between the pale terns and the shadowed skimmers creates a layered choreography—light and dark, high and low, swift and deliberate. The water below is serene, a muted mirror that reflects the soft light of day. It offers no ripples, only a quiet stage for the airborne procession. The birds’ wings are caught in various positions—some arched, some outstretched—suggesting motion, rhythm, and the silent coordination of a shared journey. The image is signed “© Swede’s Photographs” in the bottom right corner, a quiet nod to the witness behind the lens." - Microsoft Copilot
Passing in Formation
I captured this image of a flock of birds passing over the water at Gulfport, Mississippi. ...
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#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebirds #RoyalTerns #BlackSkimmers
Two black and white Royal Terns with orange beaks stand in shallow water, their reflections beneath them. The one on the right has its back to us and its shoulders raised in a defensive posture. Its head is turned in the direction of the other tern. The tern on the left stands sideways to the camera, it's head lowered and jutting out in front of it toward the tern on the right. It looks as if it is reprimanding the other tern. The background is gray wet sand.
Two #RoyalTerns, arguing
#BirdoftheDay #DailyDouble #TwosDay #EastCoastKin #birds #birding #photography #photographersofbluesky #Florida
Two white and gray Royal Terns with black “crowns” stand in sand and sparkling light gray-blue ocean water. Their reflections and shadows appear below them. The one in the right stands sideways, giving me the side-eye. The one to the left faces front, and its head and gaze is turned toward the other Royal Tern.
Taking a page from @belleab.bsky.social today for #SuperSeabirdSunday and #Stunday
Unlike these dignified #RoyalTerns-
🎶We’ll never be royals
It don’t run in our blood🎶
#WeekGforGlass #EastCosstKin #TheWildImages #photography #birdphotography #photographersofbluesky
Royal Terns stand along the shoreline, their mirror images reflected on the smooth water from a receding wave.
The welcome party
#royalterns #waterbirds #seabirds #birds #BlueSkyMonday
#florida #photography #nature #PhotographersUnited #wildlife #Alphabetchallenge #photohour #thelittlethings #EastCoastKin
Skimmers and Royals in Midair Accord "A flurry of wings cuts across a backdrop of soft, blue-gray water—smooth as brushed steel. In the frame, royal terns (Thalasseus maximus) and black skimmers (Rynchops niger) take to the air in a moment of shared flight. The royal terns flash white and ash with crisp black caps and striking orange beaks, their wings stretched high in graceful arcs, like calligraphic strokes in motion. Skimmers twist alongside them, sleek and slightly darker—dressed in a tuxedo of black and white with bold, red-tipped mandibles that almost look painted on. Their wingbeats are staggered, some birds gliding, others just lifting off, creating a layered rhythm of motion. There’s a hushed energy in their formation—not quite chaos, not quite order—just the shared momentum of shorebirds lifted by coastal wind. The ocean reflects their forms faintly, like ghosts following the living across a muted mirror." - Copilot
Good morning. 😴😫☕
3 June 2025
I’ve definitely got a case of morning-head today. First thing I did? Spilled the beans—literally. I went to fill the grinder and ended up scattering coffee beans all over the counter. ...
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#morning #responsibility #birds #shorebirds #RoyalTerns #BlackSkimmers
For comparison's sake, here's a Royal Tern which measures about 45-50 cm in length. A Least Tern is only about 22 cm.
#birds #terns #royalterns
"Five elegant royal terns stand on a stretch of sandy beach, their slender figures poised against the backdrop of a gently rolling sea. Their white plumage contrasts with the black caps adorning their heads, like neatly placed crowns. Their sharp, vivid orange beaks are striking, glowing like embers in the soft daylight. Their wings rest smoothly against their bodies, giving them an air of stillness, as though caught in a moment of contemplation. The waves behind them churn in quiet rhythm, their foamy edges kissing the shore with a soft whisper. The horizon blurs into a delicate haze, stretching endlessly beyond them. The birds stand in a loose yet deliberate line, unified in their gaze toward the water, as if drawn by some unseen force of the ocean. Whether waiting for a shift in the tide or simply surveying their kingdom, their presence radiates grace and quiet dignity. The entire scene feels serene, capturing a timeless moment in nature—one of harmony between land, sea, and sky." - Copilot
Looking Out to Sea
A couple of years ago, I captured this image of five royal terns (Thalasseus maximus) gazing out over the sea at ...
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#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorbirds #terns #RoyalTerns
A medium large tern with large sharp orange beak black cap behind , light grey wings and white body with its wings in the air like he is pirouetting.
Royal Tern Doing Flamenco Dance. Goosed Clarity a bit. Fort Clinch
#birds #terns #royalterns #birdphotography #naturephotography #fortclinch
Three medium sized terns with sharp large orange beaks, black cap feathers, black legs and generally whitish grey with light grey wings and darker tail feathers.
Three Royal Terns Fort Clinch State Park Beach
Some regulars there
#birds #terns #royalterns #birdphotography #naturephotography
"The photograph captures a lively scene with three royal terns on a sandy perch. The tern on the left appears poised for action, its body tilted forward with one leg lifted—just a moment away from plunging into the calm water. Meanwhile, the middle tern looks directly toward the camera, exuding an alert, watchful stance. On the right, another tern is busy preening, its beak grooming its feathers in a display of calm self-care. The serene water in the background mirrors their silhouettes, adding a layer of tranquility to this dynamic moment. It’s a striking portrayal of natural behavior and interaction among these elegant birds. Credit for the photo goes to "Swede's Photographs," as noted in the upper corner." - Copilot
Last One In is a Rotten Egg
This scene of three royal terns (Thalasseus maximus), in my imagination, brings to mind three children ...
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#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #RoyalTerns
Royal Terns lining the pier, all with beaks agape, Ensenada, Costa Rica #birds #royalterns #ensenada #costarica
60 or so Royal Terns on the sand of the Atlantic Ocean at Central Florida's East Coast. Was a challenge to get them all to face the same way! 🤩Just kidding, don't know why they were doing that.🪶
#birds
#seabirds
#royalterns
photos.app.goo.gl/y6iEPRSeXgAQ...
"This image shows a group of seabirds on a sandy beach near the water's edge. In the foreground, there are two ring-billed gulls, identifiable by their yellow legs and bills with a black ring near the tip. In the background, there are three royal terns, distinguishable by their orange bills and black caps on their heads. The birds are standing on the wet sand with gentle waves washing up behind them. The scene captures a peaceful moment of these birds in their natural habitat, highlighting the diversity of seabird species that can be found along coastal areas." - Copilot
Beachside Gathering
Here is a scene from Holly Beach, Louisiana. There are two ring-billed bulls (Larus delawarensis) ...
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#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #ringbilledgull #RoyalTerns
Two Royal Terns, mostly white and light gray wings with black feathered cap and crest, large orange (reddish? in shade) beak. The are holding their wings out slightly .They are side by side looking in opposite directions but obviously aware of each other.
Two Royal Terns, mostly white and light gray wings with black feathered cap and crest, large orange (reddish? in shade) beak. They hold their wings out slightly at their sides. They are side by side looking in opposite directions but obviously aware of each other. Slightly moved since first image.
Two Royal Terns, mostly white and light gray wings with black feathered cap and crest, large orange beak. They are perpendicular to each other and one carries a small fish with wide open mouth crosswise in its beak. The crests are more erect in these images with the female's (no fish offering) crest all swept up on top.
Two Royal Terns, mostly white and light gray wings and tails with black feathered cap and crest and large orange beaks. They are looking at each other and one carries a small fish with wide open mouth crosswise in its beak. The crests are more erect in these images with the female's (no fish offering) crest all swept up on top. The males feathers are fluffed up.
Royal Tern mating ritual. Some snaps of mating #RoyalTerns.
Past spring. Fort Clinch State Park Beach.Not all the same pair.
Note the fish offering (enlarge as always). Love the swept up crest feathers.
🪶 #birdphotography #naturephotography #matingritual #terns
Royal Terns in flight including shadows & reflections.
#photography
#actionshots
#shadows
#reflections
#birds
#royalterns
#micklersbeachFL
"This image shows a group of royal terns and black skimmers standing on a narrow sandbar. The birds are lined up along the sandbar, and their reflections are visible in the calm water below. The background features a serene body of water, likely a lake or a coastal area, under a clear sky. The lighting suggests it might be early morning or late afternoon, casting a soft glow on the birds and their reflections. This image captures the peaceful coexistence of different bird species in their natural habitat, highlighting the beauty of wildlife and nature." - Copilot
Morning Gathering on the Sandbar
#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #birdphotography #RoyalTerns #BlackSkimmers
Today we have a photo of a Royal Tern taken along the Florida coast last we were there. No trip planned this year, having fun with the Grandkids, plus its starting to get warm here. These Royal Terns are fun to see. Enjoy and Share! #royalterns
