The receding tide leaves swirled depressions in the sand along the tidal river edge. Ankle twisters if you happen to step in one, but perfect places for Sanderlings to poke around.
Hmmm, what is in this hole.
Nothing.
Oh look, there’s another one!
These Short-billed Dowitchers were resting at the edge of a drained marsh and rice field canal.
The Spoonbills from this morning’s post flew right over these shore birds as they looked for their own resting spot.
Royal Terns took the position closer to the water, or maybe that is what the Skimmers left them.
These Terns are spectacular, too, with their orange beaks and black crown.
The last image is from further back. The sun had peaked out below a cloud bank on the western horizon providing a nice late afternoon light.
Their orange feet and bill stripe really make the Black Skimmers stand out.
They were resting here, having just touched down after moving off a sand bar that was about to be covered by the incoming tide.
The tide was coming in so this group of shore birds, mostly Black Skimmers and Royal Terns, had to relocate. It was quite a sight!
An Avocet pair stood out in this creek that was crowded with recently arrived shore birds. Their larger size and striking colors set them apart from the others.
A Marbled Godwit joined the Avocets making an even prettier trio hanging out in the shallow water.
This is one of the two birds from yesterday’s post, Shore Birds Wading, as he landed in the marsh inlet. About an hour after sunrise, the sky was completely blue making a nice water color which made up for the dull mud.
It was disappointing that the water stream in front of the bird wasn’t wide enough to get his entire reflection as he touched down.
Doing their own thing to get breakfast, a Black Skimmer and a flock of Roseate Spoonbills ignored each other.
I was focused on the Skimmer and didn’t expect him to pass that close to the Spoonbills.
The Skimmer made a second pass, probably realizing that the concentrated efforts of the other birds meant that they were on to something.
The Spoonbills continued sifting the water, not at all disturbed by the Skimmer.
Open wide…
Got it!
A bird this size needs to catch an awful lot of little tiny fish like that to keep fed.
This Black Skimmer gave me a good show with the early morning sun highlighting his black and orange beak, in contrast to last week’s pair that I photographed in poor light.
I had a great view and was able to track his path as he crossed the pond with his lower jaw in the water.
He finally lifted, before making a big turn for another pass.
Click on any image for a closer view.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC, 7/1/2018.
