Wednesday, December 26, 2007 – Odd Birds

Shorebirds with bad haircuts, South Carlsbad Beach, San Diego County – Christmas Day, 2007

If you wish to use any of these photos for commercial purposes I assume you'll discuss that with me. And should you choose to download any of these images and use them invoking the "fair use" provisions of the Copyright Act of 1976, please provide credit, and, on the web, a link back this site.

Technical Note:

Most of these photographs were shot with a Nikon D70 - using lens (1) AF-S Nikkor 18-70 mm 1:35-4.5G ED, or (2) AF Nikkor 70-300mm telephoto, or after 5 June 2006, (3) AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor, 55-200 mm f/4-5.6G ED. They were modified for web posting using Adobe Photoshop 7.0.  Earlier photography was done with a Sony Mavica digital still camera (MVC-FD-88) with built-in digital zoom.

From our "birder" friend in New York:

They either are Elegant Tern or Royal Tern.  The "bad hair cuts" argue for Elegant, with their "long, shaggy crest."  The shape of their schnoz and especially their presence in the Los Angeles area in the wintertime argues more for Royal (which also have a crest).  On balance, probably Royal.

All text and photos, unless otherwise noted, Copyright © 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 - Alan M. Pavlik