Black Tern photography

Black Tern was actually the main target for my trip to Västmanland and not the Great Grey Owl. Sadly I couldn´t try Bird Safari Sweden‘s floating hide on Lake Mälaren as the pontoons had started to take in water and there wasn´t a backup vessel.

Still there was a possibility at hand Niclas Lignell told me and that was to try the hide at Asköviken. The Black Tern sometimes search for food just in front of the hide, but you never know when or if so it would be a gamble.

Of course I had to give it a try. I went back to the hotel after the unsuccessful morning session with the Great Grey Owl and ate breakfast before heading to Asköviken with hope of getting the Black Tern in front of my lens.

It felt good when I arrived as I saw two Red Kites over the fields at the parking and further out over the reeds I could see at least two Marsh Harriers..

I could hear Northern Lapwings all around me when I approached the hide which just was a short walk from the parking. I was also gladly surprised to see Yellow Wagtails around the hide as they have been a mission for me this year.

But what about the Black Tern? Well I stayed for almost three hours and yes one Black Tern made an appearance. It searched for food just in front of the hide over a small stretch of open water. The Black Tern is a graceful and agile Tern that I really want to work more with. It was a hard subject to photo, but I had really fun trying to follow every twist and turn that it made. It plunged into the water a couple of times without any luck.

All in all I had a great time for a couple of hours and it was great to be able to tick two boxes at a single time with the Black Tern and Yellow Wagtail. I liked the setup of the hide at Asköviken even if I would have liked it to be a little closer to the water and reed beds. I will surely make a revisit next time I am nearby.