Tag Archives: Black Skimmer

Skimmer Among Gulls

After sunrise didn’t make much of a show  I walked the beach and this group of gulls was gathered at the tide line ahead of me.

Gulls At the Beach Gulls At the Beach

I suspected they would all fly as I wasn’t the only person on the beach, and some were jogging and others had dogs.

Skimmer With Gulls At the Beach Skimmer With Gulls At the Beach

The gulls actually didn’t fly and the Black Skimmer made him self comfy in the crowd.

Skimmer With Gulls At the Beach Skimmer With Gulls At the Beach

I got one pretty good look at the Skimmer as he stepped away from the group working on their morning grooming. I glanced away for a second and when I turned back he was gone.

Skimmer At the Beach Skimmer At the Beach

St. Augustine Beach, FL
January 21, 2023

Black Skimmer, Late Afternoon Feeding

A lone Black Skimmer was fishing for his dinner at the end of the day.

Black Skimmer In Flight
Black Skimmer In Flight

Here you can clearly see the lower jaw extends much further than the upper…

Black Skimmer In Flight
Black Skimmer In Flight

…making it easier to snag prey from the water.

Black Skimmer In Flight
Black Skimmer In Flight

This is my favorite from this set, even though he got so close I cut his wings off.

Black Skimmer In Flight
Black Skimmer In Flight

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
January 18, 2023

Black Skimmers, Every Which Way

I hardly knew which way to look when this flock of Black Skimmers was actively feeding.

Black Skimmer Flock Feeding
Black Skimmer Flock Feeding,

The sun was just up, but behind a cloud bank so the light was dim.

Black Skimmer Flock Feeding
Black Skimmer Flock Feeding

This entire pond is normally under water, but was drained for a couple of weeks to help control vegetation.

Black Skimmer Flock Feeding
Black Skimmer Flock Feeding

This has a bonus effect for feeding birds as any fish are concentrated in a smaller pool of water.

Black Skimmer Flock Feeding
Black Skimmer Flock Feeding

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 9, 2022

Black Skimmers, Standing Around

Black Skimmers look a bit awkward just standing around.

Black Skimmer Pair
Black Skimmer Pair

A lone Black-necked Stilt was sharing their resting space on the dried out pond.

Black-necked Stilt backed by Black Skimmer Pair
Black-necked Stilt backed by Black Skimmer Pair

This is a former rice field pond where the water was drained as a natural vegetation control. The hope is that unwanted grasses and other plants that eventually would choke the pond will die.

Black Skimmer Pair
Black Skimmer Pair

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 15, 2022

Black Skimmers, Poor Light

The light was poor but the Black Skimmer action was outstanding.

Black Skimmers Feeding
Black Skimmers Feeding

The water had been allowed to drain from this pond for a few weeks as part of the vegetation overgrowth control efforts.

Black Skimmers Feeding
Black Skimmers Feeding

This left a very narrow strip of water where the fish were concentrated.

Black Skimmers Feeding
Black Skimmers Feeding

Some shore birds were feeding on the water’s edge and Black Skimmers were busy scooping up breakfast.

Black Skimmers Feeding
Black Skimmers Feeding

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 15, 2022