Least Tern
 | I’m Florida’s smallest tern. I arrive in late April to breed on the beach. I tend to leave by the end of August. Look for my bright black cap and stripe by my eye. Most Likely Found: At the beach When: Summer Where I've photographed: Black Skimmer Colonies, Fort De Soto, Little Estero Critical Wildlife Area, Maine Trip - July 2013, Matanzas Tern Colony, Sanibel Island Read more: Least Tern at Cornell Lab of Ornithology Ebird: Least Tern eBird range |
I have written 46 posts including a photo of a Least Tern
2021: Photographic Year in Review
December 31, 2021 - Summer visits to Florida's Gulf Coast yielded my favorite Least Terns in all their courtship rituals, plus a few fuzzy and very cute babies!... Read more
More Fun from the Least Tern Colony
August 21, 2021 - I returned to the Least Tern colony in mid-June to visit my little babies.... The habitat at this colony is perfect for Least Terns!... Read more
Defending the Tern Colony
August 5, 2021 - Least Tern Chasing Laughing Gull Away from Colony Least Tern Chasing Laughing Gull Away from Colony Least Tern Chasing Laughing Gull Away from Colony Least Tern Chasing Laughing Gull Away from Colony Least Tern Chasing Laughing Gull Away from Colony Least Tern Chasing Laughing Gull Away from Colony Least Tern…... Read more
Least Tern Babies!!
August 3, 2021 - He grew up to be the first banded Least Tern on this beach, nicknamed "Tribble." He and his brother spent the morning hanging out in these beach grasses.... Read more
Taking Turns Making Terns!
August 1, 2021 - In fact, my favorite Least Tern courtship image is titled "Will you Marry Me?" Well, there were plenty of fish on Outback Key and more than one tern couple got engaged that morning...... Least Tern Couple One The key to these images was getting low so that I was at…... Read more
So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!
May 28, 2021 - As I was leaving North Beach, I came across a pair of Least Terns.... Read more
2019: Photographic Year in Review
December 31, 2019 - Beach photography at Fort De Soto: Black-bellied Plover in flight, Red Knot, Royal Tern courtship, Least Tern courtship, Black Skimmers, Black-bellied Plover in breeding plumage For years I've read about the famous Cape Coral Burrowing Owls, and this year we finally made the trip down there.... Snowy Plover nesting and…... Read more
2000 Posts on catandturtle.net!
August 15, 2019 - Loggerhead Turtle Hatchling Emergence!!Out of the Egg: I Saw a Sandhill Crane Hatch!!!Snowy Owl in FloridaAtlantic Puffins on Machias Seal IslandNewborn Sandhill Crane Baby at NestPrecious Moments with the Least TernsBlack Skimmer ColonySwallow-tailed Kite RoostCygnets for Mother's Day A Rainbow of Color at Fort De SotoGreat Horned Owl Nest at Fort…... Read more
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Least Tern Family
July 12, 2019 - During my final visit at the Least Tern colony this year, I found a very special family.... Read more
Eureka Again: Another Evening at the Least Tern Colony
July 6, 2019 - My thoughts were with cute Least Tern chicks ever since Rich's Eureka moment and my wonderful half hour with the cute little babies.... Crabs are predators of Least Terns.... So the Least Tern adults actively chase off all ghost crabs...... Read more
Least Terns Nesting at Little Estero Critical Wildlife Area
July 3, 2019 - I have never seen so many Least Terns nesting in one place before.... Read more
Rich’s Eureka Moment: Baby Least Terns!!
June 27, 2019 - Yep, Rich found a wonderful colony of Least Terns.... Least Terns lay their eggs in small scrapes on the sand.... Read more
An Apple a Day and the Birds will Play!
June 15, 2019 - The Least Terns were hanging out at the edge of the beach, diving for fish for breakfast.... The Least Terns at the water's edge were focused on fishing and breakfast.... https://vimeo.com/338664208 Least Tern piggy-back ride (yep, this is a family-friendly site!) Our last bird of the day was a Whimbrel!... Read more
Bath Time for Shorebirds at Fort De Soto
June 12, 2019 - ...Shorebirds at Fort De Soto enjoyed splashing in front of my camera! Terns, Black-bellied Plovers, and a surprise Magnificent Frigatebird Read more
Early May Shorebirds at Fort De Soto
May 28, 2019 - As the sun rose, a Least Tern flew by with a fish, making a nice silhouette image.... Read more
Least Tern Courtship – The Slip!
May 25, 2019 - During a visit to Fort de Soto at the beginning of May, I heard the familiar calls of Least Terns.... Read more
Seashells and Shorebirds at Sanibel Beach
May 5, 2019 - As we meandered down the beach, we came across a colony of nesting Least Terns.... Least Tern courtship is all about the fish.... I've never had much luck with Least Tern flight shots.... Read more
Happy Mother’s Day!
May 14, 2017 - Least Tern Mother & Chick Roseate Spoonbill Mother & Baby Black Skimmer Mother & Baby Sandhill Crane Mother & Colt Great Horned Owl Mother & Babies Mute Swan Mother & Cygnet ... Read more
2016: Photographic Year in Review
December 31, 2016 - Beach Sunrises and the Tern Colony In early summer, I combined my favorite sunrise location with a visit to a nesting colony of Least Terns.... Read more
My Turn with the Terns!
June 11, 2016 - Least Tern in his Habitat The beach was covered in picturesque sea grasses and flowers.... Read more
Year in Review: Photographic Memories of 2015
December 31, 2015 - (If you're squeamish like my mom, don't spent too much time staring under the Osprey's foot!) This year was spectacular at the Least Tern Colony in St.... I photographed the terns mating at the colony in early May, then I returned week after week to enjoy the magical sunrises at Marineland beach…... Read more
Independence Day
August 1, 2015 - On July 4th I headed to the beach to check on my Least Tern chicks.... This was my last visit to the Least Tern colony this year.... Read more
More Precious Moments with the Least Terns
July 2, 2015 - My last visit with the Least Tern family left such a smile on my face that I got up early and returned to the beach the following morning.... Read more
Precious Moments with the Least Terns
June 23, 2015 - This spring I've visited the Matanzas tern colony several times, first to see the Least Terns mating, then in hopes of seeing young chicks.... Read more
A Least Tern Chick and More Crabs
June 11, 2015 - Augustine to visit the Least Tern colony.... Read more
Lots of Action at the Matanzas Tern Colony!
June 9, 2015 - The Least Tern incubation period is about three weeks, so we returned in three weeks hoping to see some tiny chicks.... A few feet away, an adult Least Tern flew in with a fish.... Read more
Least Tern Courtship
May 22, 2015 - Augustine in early May, I headed to the Least Tern colony for my first visit of the year.... A juvenile Least Tern stood nearby watching all the commotion.... Read more
Year in Review: 2014
December 30, 2014 - The Least Terns gave me several good afternoons of courtship behaviors.... Despite the chaos at home, I had a few hours to slip away to a Least Tern colony, where I photographed courtship behaviors and tiny fuzzballs sticking out from under Mom.... Read more
Least Tern Chicks (from June)
August 28, 2014 - A few weeks after photographing the Least Tern courtship rituals and dances, I returned to the Least Tern colony to see if there were any babies.... The sand was hot as I laid down with my tripod after spotting the first objects of my visit...tiny Least Tern chicks!... The Least…... Read more
Least Terns in Love
August 20, 2014 - I spent a lot of time with the Least Terns this spring.... In the next post...the concluding chapter of the Least Tern courtship!... Read more
Least Tern Courtship (from June)
August 17, 2014 - Back in June, in the middle of our house construction nightmare, I managed to slip away for a quick morning of Least Tern Courtship.... Read more
Least Tern Fish Exchanges and Courtship
May 23, 2014 - These pictures are from two weekends ago at Fort De Soto, when I spent a fun morning observing Least Tern fish exchanges and courtship rituals.... At first I just had a flock of gulls, but then these two little Least Terns flew in.... I'd never observed the Least Terns mating,…... Read more
Least Tern Fish Exchanges
May 7, 2014 - Recently I had a great time photographing Least Tern fish exchanges at North Beach at Fort De Soto.... But even better, a pair of Least Terns was fishing in the lagoon area.... I've photographed Least Terns before, but usually after they have babies.... Read more
Sandy Point State Reservation, Massachusetts
July 28, 2013 - Sandy Point State Reservation is an important nesting location not only for the Piping Plovers, but also for Least Terns.... I was surprised to find day-old Least Terns in small scrapes close to the edge of a roped-off area.... This one sat perched on the Least Tern ropes.... Read more
“Learn and Help”
July 12, 2012 - ...I was pleased to donate the use of one of my photographs to American Bird Conservancy’s Help Gulf Birds website aimed at protecting shorebirds on Florida’s coasts. Check it out! Read more
Gather Ye Tern Chicks While Ye May…
May 31, 2012 - Last Saturday I had the privilege of photographing the Least Tern Colony near Fort Matanzas in St.... Augustine. The Least Terns are the smallest terns in their family, and each year they come to St.... Read more
No Vacancies!
May 29, 2012 - ...I’m still going through my images from Saturday morning at the Fort Matanzas tern colony. There was a nest that was very very close to us, and it was incredible! So I’ll have a full post tomorrow, and until then, here’s a teaser…no vacancies! Read more
Least Tern Courtship
May 14, 2012 - Ever since my terrific morning photographing the Least Terns at Fort Matanzas last spring, I've been counting the days until their return.... The Least Terns are the smallest in their family of birds.... Read more
Somewhere over the Rainbow…Least Terns Fly!
June 25, 2011 - I went back to the Least Tern Colony at Summer Haven this morning. My friend Michael Libbe came with me, and we had high hopes for a sunny morning and nice close nests. Instead we got fog, a slight drizzle, and not-so-cooperative birds. The nests that were close to the…... Read more
Cute Baby Birds at the Summer Haven Least Tern Colony are Totally Worth the Drive!
June 11, 2011 - :-D Least Tern The Least Terns come to nest at St.... Least Tern on eggs I was amazed at the number of tiny fish brought in to the colony by these birds. The fish are passed from bird to bird during mating rituals (and no, it's not too late in…... Read more
A Preview of Coming Distractions…Summer Haven Tern Colony
June 10, 2011 - Least Tern Chick... Read more
Tern Colony at Matanzas Inlet
May 31, 2011 - I'd heard about a Least Tern Colony at Matanzas Inlet. It's the biggest in Florida, numbering up to 200 nests (and yay for Audubon's success in closing the beach to vehicles that were running over the nests and chicks!!) Since I was in the neighborhood this morning, I stopped by…... Read more
Beautiful Morning at Fort De Soto
November 23, 2010 - Laughing Gull I think this is a Least Tern.... Least Tern I kept missing the Brown Pelican fly-bys, and I was getting a little annoyed, because the light was awesome and it made their feathers sparkle with iridescence.... Black-Bellied Plover https://vimeo.com/341093593 Bird List: American Goldfinch, Black and White Warbler, Black-Bellied…... Read more
My First Trip to Fort De Soto
September 4, 2010 - ...After hearing about Fort De Soto from birders all over the state, I finally drove over there to check it out. It was everything that people said, and better! I’m not all that familiar with the shorebirds. Before I went today, I couldn’t tell a sandpiper from a plover — and hopefully some of the […] Read more