The Common Terns are visiting Israel this time of year. Observing them catching fish is incredible. They fly over the waters...
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| Tern Hovering Above the Water |
Then plunge in, and more often than not, emerge from the water with a fish in their beak. This one looks like it's drawing in the air using water drops.
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| Tern Emerging from Water with Fish |
Having caught the fish, they take off majestically...
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| Tern Caught a Fish |
Sometimes they fail to catch something. But they still look majestic coming out.
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| Waterdrops Blanket |
The water splashing around and the water drops spreading all over is always beautiful to watch.
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| Tern Emerging from Water |
Trouble is, other terns then tend to fight the successful one for the fish she just caught! This can lead to the fish being dropped, at times, and then they try to re-catch it in the air. Like this photo shows. Note that the Tern is still completely wet so it's spreading water drops all around...
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| Tern Catching Fish in the Air |
This is a split-second later, the fish will be caught again.
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| Tern Catching Fish in the Air, part II |
Once back in the air, they tend to get rid of the water in their feathers using beautiful acrobatic maneuvers. Note how this one shakes the drops of water off using by twisting in mid-air.
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| Acrobatic Tern |