Soon Caspian Terns will be back in Utah flying over rivers, ponds, lakes and other freshwater impoundments searching for prey.

Caspian Tern in flight, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, FloridaNonbreeding Caspian Tern in flight – Nikon D200, handheld, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 320, Nikkor 80-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 310mm, natural light, not baited

Caspian Terns are the largest terns in North America and are about the size of a Ring-billed Gull. I have been fortunate to see and photograph them in both Utah and Florida. They make a funny “kowk” call and usually I hear them before I see them when I am out photographing here in Utah. Caspian Terns breed here in northern Utah but the largest breeding colony of them is in Oregon.

The Caspian Tern with the speckled crown in the photo above is in nonbreeding plumage, I photographed it in flight over the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. There was a storm coming off of the Gulf that made for an interesting sky.

Pair of Caspian Terns in breeding plumage at the north beach of Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, FloridaPair of Caspian Terns in breeding plumage – Nikon D200, handheld, f18, 1/160, ISO 160, Nikkor 70-300mm VR with 1.4x TC at 300mm, natural light, not baited

This pair of Caspian Terns with all black crowns were in breeding plumage when I photographed them at Fort De Soto County Park’s north beach. I have always chuckled when I view this image because it almost looks like a two-headed, four-legged Caspian Tern due to the close proximity of the terns. To get both birds in focus I set my aperture at f18 and that worked well.

I can’t wait to see my first of the year Caspian Terns!

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see my Caspian Tern photos plus facts and information about this species.