Tag Archives: Black Skimmer

Skimmer Among Gulls

January 31, 2023 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

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.

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

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

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.

St. Augustine Beach, FL
January 21, 2023

Water Birds

Black Skimmer, Late Afternoon Feeding

January 25, 2023 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

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

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

…making it easier to snag prey from the water.

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

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
January 18, 2023

Water Birds

Black Skimmer – Dancing Feet

July 29, 2022 Ellen Jennings 8 Comments

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 29, 2022

Water Birds

Black Skimmers, Every Which Way

June 23, 2022 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 9, 2022

Water Birds

Black Skimmers, Early Morning

June 14, 2022 Ellen Jennings 7 Comments

There is not much I can say about these, except that I am fascinated by the Black Skimmers, so here are a few more images of them doing their thing.

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 15, 2022

Water Birds

Black Skimmers, Successful Catches

June 12, 2022 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

Very small catch, hence lots of trips to sustain themselves.

They swallow as they go, make a u-turn and come around again.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 9, 2022

Water Birds

Black Skimmers, Standing Around

June 6, 2022 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Black Skimmers look a bit awkward just standing around.

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

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.