For two consecutive years now my wife and I have timed our Florida trip around the baby Least Terns. Last year I had some decent success. I did get photos of the little guys running around the beach but as every photographer you are always left yearning for more and something better. Well this year, by far surpassed my experience last year. I made two trips out to the east coast of Florida for these little guys. What I got to see this year that I really didn't see last year (course doesn't mean it happened) was skirmishes with the Ghost Crabs and Least Terns. This was an interesting behavior to watch between the two. From my understanding, the crabs will go after the babies so anytime a Tern spots a wayward crab wondering to close they charge the crab with its wings raised high in an attempt to chase the crab away. Sometimes, you will see the Terns double up on the crabs which I was able to see.
Along with the skirmishes that I saw I was able to capture more moments with the baby Terns and the Terns with their parents with some feeding shots. Something that I wasn't able to capture last year. I was fortunate to have some very sweet light in the morning as well which was something that I didn't have last year.
I was able to capture images of a Wilson Plover that had decided to set up its nest right by the boundary ropes on the beach too. No pictures of the babies as the eggs hadn't hatched yet but I am sure some of my Florida photography friends were able to get them.
I mentioned my wife came with me on the second day. Again she got to see what I look like in action and did her thing taking pictures of me taking pictures. She did enjoy her time on the beach and by the ocean as we both do when we visit Florida.
