The water was still and the air was hot. A few gulls and terns occupied old posts standing in the pond while an Anhinga dried off on a stump.
Even though it was early morning when you expect to see the birds feeding there wasn’t much going on.
Trees and grasses on the other side of the pond made interesting reflections in the water.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC, 8/12/2019
An easier to identify shore bird than some due to their pretty rusty colors and calico like pattern, the Ruddy Turnstone breed in the tundra of northern North America but non-breeding Turnstones can be found along most of the eastern and western US coastlines.
I came upon a small flock after Sunday’s Sunrise, and this one was acting like an intrepid adventurer as the tide came in.
Covered in barnacles, there are a number of dead trees that have been knocked over by storms laying in the water here.
The American Oystercatchers I featured in yesterday’s post, American Oystercatchers Flying In, landed fairly close to me but back lit by the just risen sun. I continued down the beach past them, then turned back to see what they were up to.
They were strutting around in the low surf. True to their name, they mostly eat oysters or will probe for other food.
There was no oyster bed here and these two didn’t seem interested in hunting. They soon took off.
Just after the sun came up on Sunday I heard these two coming and fortunately for me they were flying towards the sun.
They flew out over the ocean, past part of the dead tree “boneyard” before touching down in the surf.
Click on any image for a larger view.
Black Skimmers sometimes do a U-turn over the water and skim back the way the came. Other times they lift up and go back where they started or pick a new place to feed.
It seems reasonable that wind direction and food availability figure in their decisions.
Whatever the cause they are as beautiful in full flight as they are when they are skimming.
One of the challenges in wildlife photography is choosing where to stand. Should I stay put or go to the next opening for a better view? Will the bird stay on the same path or veer to the left? Are there any Alligators nearby?
I saw this pair of Black Skimmers coming towards me along the edge of the pond. My view was obstructed of their approach by the reeds.
I got lucky and they stayed together and moved into the center of the open water. I stayed put and got an aerial show.
I love to watch these birds fly and wonder when they are in pairs how they stay synchronized.
Their fishing is done by touch and when the Skimmer feels a fish in the water their heads snap down as they lift the prey.
I had seen a Black Skimmer head down this canal and was ready when he made a u-turn and flew back towards me.
Impressive with their flight skills, this one made a sharp turn.
I was standing at a trunk on the canal which obscured my view for a few seconds as he passed by.
I was able to pick him up on the other side.
I’m not sure if they lift up off the water to check their course, but in just two seconds he was back to water level.
He dropped his beak into the water then my sight was obscured by reeds.
Watching Brown Pelicans fly can be mesmorizing. They often glide in small groups along the shore line, gracefully and with what looks like little effort.
And with some secret signal they turn in unison.
These were taken at the end of the day and there wasn’t much light. This last Pelican was by himself and went right over my head, and yes I wear a hat.
The Bonaparte’s Gull and Forster’s Tern look a lot alike and I always have to check a reference when I see either. I happened to capture one of each in similar poses during my recent beach visit.
The gull is slightly larger, but when you see them zooming along above the ocean waves that is hard to tell.
Watching Bonaparte’s Gulls feed in the ocean surf it was amazing to see how well they timed the waves, lifting out of the water to avoid a crash.
Or just bobbing along and riding the crest of a wave.
Sometimes they jump right into the breaking wave, perhaps the fish they want to eat are churned up there. These images capture the gull plus some of the mesmerizing water movement.
