Common Tern Carrying a Large Fish at Warnham Local Nature Reserve

Welcome to my wildlife photography journal! A visit to Warnham Local Nature Reserve on 26th July 2026 produced some fantastic wildlife moments, with the Common Terns providing one of the highlights of the day. The reserve was once again full of interesting behaviour, giving me plenty of opportunities to observe and photograph these impressive birds.

One particular Common Tern caught my attention as it flew past carrying an impressively large fish. Watching terns catch their prey is always fascinating, but seeing one carrying such a sizeable fish really shows just how capable these birds are. The fish was clearly visible as the tern flew past, creating a great opportunity to capture the action and produce a sequence of images showing the bird in flight with its catch.

Photographing birds in flight is always a challenge, particularly when they are moving quickly while carrying prey. Getting the focus right, keeping the bird in the frame and timing the shutter release all have to come together at exactly the right moment. When they do, it makes the effort worthwhile, especially when the behaviour is clearly captured in the resulting photographs.

It was another great wildlife encounter at Warnham Local Nature Reserve and a reminder that there is always something interesting happening if you take the time to watch what is going on around you.

Thanks for reading! Be sure to explore my other wildlife photography adventures from Warnham Local Nature Reserve and beyond. Every visit brings new opportunities to discover and photograph the wildlife around us.