Show Navigation

Search Results

Refine Search
Match all words
Match any word
Prints
Personal Use
Royalty-Free
Rights-Managed
(leave unchecked to
search all images)
{ 19 images found }

Loading ()...

  • This is a greater crested tern (Thalasseus bergii) wrangling a sardine. Being a small bird, the tern had difficulty controlling the struggling fish. The bird flew the sardine to the sand in order to subdue it.
    greater-crested-tern-thalasseus berg...tif
  • Common tern (Sterna hirundo) with fish that it has just caught, Hyporhamphus sp. (perhaps limbatus)
    common-tern-sterna-hirundo-hyporhamp...tif
  • Whiskered tern (Chlidonias hybrida), non-breeding plumage. This bird species sometimes takes advantage of the feeding behavior of Eden’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni edeni) in the Gulf of Thailand. The whales bring fish up to the surface of the shallow waters of the Gulf, and the birds swoop in to grab a meal.
    whiskered-tern-non-breeding-plumage-...tif
  • Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) hovering above the ocean before it dived in to catch fish.
    arctic-tern-hovering-above-ocean-hun...tif
  • Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) in flight in the middle of a beautiful Arctic summer night. This species undertakes an incredible pole to pole migration each year to spend summer in both the northern and the southern hemispheres.
    arctic-tern-flying-overhead-blue-sky...tif
  • Common tern (Sterna hirundo) with fish that it has just caught, Hyporhamphus sp. (perhaps limbatus), being chased by a whiskered tern (Chlidonias hybrida)
    chlidonias-hybrida-chasing-sterna-hi...tif
  • A pair of Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) taking a break betweeen periods of fishing. These birds migrate from the Arctic to Antarctica and back each year, spending summer in the northern and southern hemispheres. Round trip distances traveled by these birds involve tens of thousands of kilometers.
    arctic-terns-sterna-paradisaea-svalb...tif
  • Common terns (Sterna hirundo) flying alongside Eden’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni edeni) in the Gulf of Thailand/ The terns follow whales in order to catch fish that the whales bring to the ocean surface.
    sterna-hirundo-following-balaenopter...tif
  • This is a Balaenoptera edeni whale in the Gulf of Thailand foraging for fish by side-lunging. Side-lunging started to become prevalent in 2017 and seems to have continued through 2018. The previous feeding behaviour of remaining stationary at the surface with open mouths has not been seen since 2016. As pictured here, terns of several species frequently gather to take advantage of the fish that foraging whales bring to the surface. This population is limited in size, several dozen individuals. It is quite likely that there is no mixing between this population and other B. edeni whales outside the Gulf of Thailand.
    edens-whale-foraging-gulf-thailand-w...tif
  • Pictured here are sardines (Clupeidae) fleeing from predators in the early morning. They were being herded and chased by trevallies and blacktip reef sharks in the water, and picked off by brown boobies and terns from the air. This coordinated hunting took place primarily before sunrise.
    sardines-fleeing-from-predators-tong...tif
  • Pictured here are sardines (Clupeidae) fleeing from predators in the early morning. They were being herded and chased by trevallies and blacktip reef sharks in the water, and picked off by brown boobies and terns from the air. This coordinated hunting took place primarily before sunrise.
    sardines-fleeing-predators-tonga-201...tif
  • This is a blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) slicing through shallow water in pursuit of sardines, some of which can be seen jumping into the air to avoid being caught. This occurred in the early morning, usually commencing just before sunrise, when large schools of the baitfish gathered in shallow water. Several species worked together to herd and catch the fish. In the water, trevallies and blacktip reef sharks herded the fish, forcing them into concentrated groups. From the air, brown boobies and terns hovered. The predators coordinated their attacks, usually with trevallies making high-speed runs through the groups of fish. This caused panic, sending the sardines in every direction. Blacktip reef sharks then charged in, chasing sardines into shallow water and sometimes onto shore, while boobies and terns picked off fish at the surface, separated from the other fish. This action was rapid, often resulting in sweeping waves of panicked fish washing down the length of the shoreline. Here, the sun has just come up over the horizon. The action usually slowed down and stopped within 20-30 minutes after sunrise.
    blacktip-reef-shark-hunting-sardines...tif
  • This is a blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) beaching itself to catch sardines. This occurred in the early morning, just before sunrise, when large schools of the baitfish gathered in shallow water. Several species worked together to herd and catch the fish. In the water, trevallies and blacktip reef sharks herded the fish, forcing them into concentrated groups. From the air, brown boobies and terns hovered. The predators coordinated their attacks, usually with trevallies making high-speed runs through the groups of fish. This caused panic, sending the sardines in every direction. Blacktip reef sharks then charged in and beached themselves, chasing baitfish onto shore, while boobies and terns picked off fish at the surface, separated from the other fish. This action was rapid, often resulting in sweeping waves of panicked fish washing down the length of the shoreline. Once the sun came up, the action slowed down and usually stopped within 20-30 minutes after sunrise.
    blacktip-reef-shark-hunting-sardines...tif
  • Male Eden’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni edeni) known as Maesa (which means April) engaging in a feeding technique suited for the shallow waters of the Gulf of Thailand. After finding a suitable quantity of prey, the whale opens his mouth at the surface while stirring up the shallow water and sediment with his fluke. This causes small fish (anchovies in this case) to panic, with many inadvertently jumping into his mouth. Sometimes whiskered terns (Chlidonias hybrida) make use of this foraging behavior to grab an easy meal, as seen here. Maesa is part of an isolated population of Eden’s whales, which are a neritic member of the Bryde’s whale complex, that live in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Thailand. It is likely that there are 50 or less in the population.
    edens-whale-foraging-anchovies-gulf-...tif
  • A lone Eden’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni edeni) feeding on small fish in the Gulf of Thailand, with whiskered terns (Chlidonias hybrida) flying in to grab an easy meal.
    edens-whale-feeding-gulf-thailand-20...tif
  • Pictured here are sardines (Clupeidae) fleeing from predators in the early morning. They were being herded and chased by trevallies and blacktip reef sharks in the water, and picked off by brown boobies and terns from the air. This coordinated hunting took place primarily before sunrise. Here, the sun was just peeking over the horizon.
    sardines-fleeing-from-predators-tong...tif
  • This is an adult female Eden’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni edeni) named Mae Gunya and her calf Jao Khamsamut feeding on anchovies in the shallow waters of the upper Gulf of Thailand. Around them are whiskered terns (Chlidonias hybrida) flying in to grab fish brought up by the whales.
    edens-whale-mother-calf-feeding-anch...tif
  • Lesser frigatebird (Fregata aerial) patrolling the skies. There were terns picking up sardines that had been driven into shallow water and onto the beach by trevallies, blacktip reef sharks and other predators. Frigatebirds like this gathered overhead to swoop in, bully terns carrying fish, and steal their meals.
    lesser-frigatebird-fregata-aerial-20...tif
  • The is an adult female Eden’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) engaged in lunge-feeding behavior with her calf. The mother is on the left side of the image. The pair swam in a large circle to herd fish (likely Sardinella sp.), slapping the ocean surface once in a while presumably to drive the fish forward. When there are are enough fish swimming inside the arc created by the whales, they execute a quick turn so that their mouths open directly into the line of motion, thereby capturing a large mouthful of fish. The crest of the wave created by the arc of the whales’ rapid turn is visible behind them. Several species of terns take advantage of the whales’ efforts. This lunge-feeding behavior began to appear in the Gulf of Thailand in 2017 and has been the dominant feeding methodology during 2018.
    eden-whale-balaenoptera-edeni-lunge-...tif
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x

Tony Wu Underwater Photography

  • Search Image Archive
    • All Galleries
    • Search
    • Cart
    • Lightbox
    • Client Area
  • View Portfolio
  • Read About Me
  • Send Me a Note
  • Portfolio