Another Great Year For Least Terns!

This year again, a small colony of Least Terns nested alongside the Sarasota Bay Black Skimmers beach colony. While being the smallest Terns in Florida, they fiercely defend their territory. There are still a few openings for the November 8th-9th 2025 Florida shorebirds & wading birds tour. Shoot me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com if you want to join the fun 🙂

Family of Least Terns
Least Terns Family – Black Skimmers nesting colony
ISO 2500 | f/11 | 1/4000 sec. | Manual mode
Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS with the Sony A1 and a 2x extender

Check out this absolutely adorable family portrait!!! The chicks are less than two days old too 🙂 Given the small size of the Least Terns, those chicks were very tiny.

Least Terns - Mom and chick
Mom and chick – Black Skimmers nesting colony
ISO 2500 | f/8 | 1/6400 sec. | Manual mode
Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS with 2x extender and the Sony A1

Another adorable angle, with mom and just one chick popping out under her wing. It is difficult not to melt when watching this interaction.

Least Terns - Courtship Parade
Least Terns in courtship – Black Skimmers nesting colony
ISO 1600 | f/5.6 | 1/4000 sec. | Manual mode
Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS with the Sony A1

Least Terns have quite the courtship ritual! Males will bring a tasty offering. If the lady is interested, she will let her admirer do the did while eating the offering at the same time.

Least Tern in flight
Least Tern in flight – Black Skimmers nesting colony
ISO 1600 | f/5.6 | 1/5000 sec. | Manual mode
Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS with the Sony A1

The image above depicts a Least Tern shaking water drops away after bathing in the shallow beach surf.

Florida Shorebirds & Wading Birds Photography Tour – $1,090

November 8th-9th 2025 / limit 6 people – 4 open

Florida Shorebirds & Wading Birds Photography Tour 2024

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 3 shoots at Fort Desoto Park. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com to book your spot.

East Florida Fishing Ospreys / Spoonbills mix Photography Tour

March 21st-22nd 2026 (Airboat option $1,690) / limit 4 people – 3 open

April 18th-19th 2026 (Fishing Jetty option $1,590) / limit 5 people – 3 open

East Florida Fishing Ospreys & Spoonbills Tour - 2026

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 1 pontoon boat-based Osprey shoots at the Vero Beach Cypress Lake + 1 land-based Spoonbills shoot at a local rookery + either (i) 1 shoot at the fishing jetty or (ii) 1 airboat shoot. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com to book your spot.

Tampa Bay Spoonbills Rookery Photography Tour – $1,590

February 14th-15th 2026 / limit 5 people – 3 open

February 28th-March 1st 2026 / limit 5 people – 2 open

Florida Spoonbills Tour - Bird Photography

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 3 shoots at the Tampa Bay Spoonbills rookery. We typically shoot while wading in the water in the mornings and from the boat in the afternoon. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com to book your spot.

Black Skimmers Colony Photography Workshop – $1,190

June 13th-14th 2026 / limit 6 people – 4 open

Black Skimmers Tour - Bird Photography

3 shoots and 1 over-the-shoulder Photoshop tutoring => 3 shoots at the Sarasota Bay Black Skimmers colony. We shoot along the beach, where the nesting colony is easily accessible. $250 deposit. Send me an email at steven@stevenbirdphotography.com to book your spot.

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