Dropped off my truck for an oil change. Nice day-60s-so I thought to bring my camera. Just behind the dealership is a nature walk along the waterfront. I parked my arthritic carcass on. bench and observed. About 40 Caspian Terns were frolicking on the short beach in front of me. Thinking it is mating season and the birds are behaving strangely (to me) I followed some of the activity.

The first shot is of a pair doing a mating dance (?). It is barely covered by water. Note the brownish color of the water under the heron. Not sure why the spot is important to transient Caspian Terns.

Then a Great Blue Heron flew up and landed just in that spot.

About 20 individual birds dive bombed the heron while I watched-about 7 minutes. Look closely at the heron's face. It was squawking as well. Hard to hear, though over Caspian cacophony that may be a part of their mating rituals.

BTW- I did not see a tern actually tough the heron. Just a steady stream of threading flybys.

Z9, 600pF.

Download and enjoy!

Dropped off my truck for an oil change. Nice day-60s-so I thought to bring my camera. Just behind the dealership is a nature walk along the waterfront. I parked my arthritic carcass on. bench and observed. About 40 Caspian Terns were frolicking on the short beach in front of me. Thinking it is mating season and the birds are behaving strangely (to me) I followed some of the activity.

The first shot is of a pair doing a mating dance (?). It is barely covered by water. Note the brownish color of the water under the heron. Not sure why the spot is important to transient Caspian Terns.

Then a Great Blue Heron flew up and landed just in that spot.

About 20 individual birds dive bombed the heron while I watched-about 7 minutes. Look closely at the heron's face. It was squawking as well. Hard to hear, though over Caspian cacophony that may be a part of their mating rituals.

BTW- I did not see a tern actually tough the heron. Just a steady stream of threading flybys.

Z9, 600pF.

Download and enjoy!