These Black Skimmers chose to do their skimming in the pond between me and the sun, rather than the prettier marsh on the other side of the dike where the light was beautiful.

The light here doesn’t do justice to their gorgeous orange beaks, but you can see how elegantly Skimmers fly and hunt. When in pairs the almost always fly with their wing beats synchronized.

Swooping around a small island the pair pulled tight together before turning for another long run.

Then they disappeared down an inlet, not to return while I was in the area.

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC, 6/27/2018.