Teleconverter test on Terns

I bought a 2 times teleconverter this week and took it out for testing on a pretty poor day, which was dull to say the least, and windy. I was originally at Carnoustie and then Inchcape Park in Arbroath, where the terns have taken to sitting on the concrete pillars, despite the camper-vans. It was high tide on a spring at 5.7 metres.

Unusually for me, I used my tripod for many of the photos and for some video of a young Arctic Tern and juvenile Little Gull, the video was over-exposed, must read up sensible settings!

All in all, I think the teleconverter proved better than I expected, although focusing in the poor light wasn't always good or first time.

Little Gull juvenile continually moving on the terns from it's preferred perch, click for video

Arctic Tern juvenile at Inchcape Park, Arbroath, click here for video

Check out this paper from British Birds on Tern ID, click here for pdf file  It helped me out as I'd never really tried to ID juveniles. Birdguides also has a Tern ID page with photos.
Birdguides Tern ID, click here

Arctic Tern moulting into winter plumage before migrating, the jet black beak suggests an Arctic, the commons have a red base on the lower beak. This is a resize with no crop

Common Terns

Common Terns

Common Tern juvenile

The Little Gull from the video, who likes it's own space

Hand held Black-headed Gull, and not bad for the light and distance

This Guillemot was quite far out at Inchcape

Camera rested on my scope, which was on the tripod

Knot and Turnstone

Same Knot

Pied Wagtail male

Rock Pipit, always difficult to get a decent photo of these guys

Turnstone, not the one still in breeding colours I was trying for

Turnstones, flushed by one of the many dogs on Carnoustie beach

House Sparrow, hand held