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The Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) is well known for its long distance migrations from the Arctic to the Antarctic each year. The species nests across parts of coastal northern Canada and Alaska. During spring and fall it may be noted at sea off of both coasts and occasionally into the Gulf of Mexico. The species is common and easily seen across most of Alaska during summer. The bird on the right is carrying a fish near Anchorage in May, 2012. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens.
This Arctic Tern was near Nome, Alaska, in May, 2012.
The adult Arctic Tern in the next two shots was on a bridge over a stream near Nome, Alaska, in June, 2012. These shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.
The next series of flight shots were taken near Anchorage, Alaska, in June, 2012, from a parking lot at Potter Marsh. I simply stood among several parked vehicles while the terns were passing by right over our heads. The terns certainly had nests near the parking lot and did not like the cars in the area. We stayed a few minutes, then left, but I worry that these particular terns certainly spend a great deal of time in this effort, but when they nest at the edge of a parking lot visited by scores or perhaps hundreds of cars daily, such things are bound to happen.
The next two shots show an Arctic Tern on a nest.