Well, they really weren’t paying any attention to the passing Skimmer, but the Black-crowned Night-heron and Alligator add something to the images. It was shortly after sunrise and the light wasn’t yet reaching the water or the near side of the pond.
When the Skimmer lifted off the water to make a turn he was nicely lit.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 4, 2026
Repairs have restarted on the dike around the old rice field pond at Magnolia Plantation so the water level is low. This provides excellent feeding opportunities for a variety of birds, including Black Skimmers. I spent a couple of hours this morning being entertained.
The little fish scatter across the water as they try to avoid the hunter.
Got one!
Now the trick is to not drop it…
… and swallow it on the fly.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 4, 2026
Same images in a gallery for testing: click on any image below to start slide show.
We saw very few Black Skimmers on our recent trip to Florida, and this was the only one I caught in flight.
The Glossy Ibis and Grebes paid him no attention as he performed the classic beak dip as he hunted.
He passed on by and they never even looked up.
Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island, FL
February 25, 2026
Eventually the Black Skimmer duo came right towards me …
and amazingly the first one turned to my left…
then lifted up rather than skimming.
The second was was following behind, giving me a wonderful opportunity for a side view of the skimming action.
Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island, FL
February 9, 2025
Long-billed Dowitcher ID by Merlin Bird ID app
Black Skimmers are fascinating to watch as they swoop low over the water, their lower beak in the water to scoop up prey. I spotted two on the far side of a big pond on the wildlife drive, too far for a decent photograph. Then they came closer and dropped in the middle of a small flock of shore birds, something I had never seen them do.
The Dowitchers weren’t disturbed by the Skimmers’ arrival, but were having their own flap-abouts.
Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island, FL
February 9, 2025
Long-billed Dowitcher ID by Merlin Bird ID app
The gate was closed at our intended destination on Friday morning so we took a chance on a pond where we’ve only seen mosquitoes and deer flies the last few times we’ve been there.
Black Skimmers are a delight to watch with amazing aerobatic skills and we found a half dozen of them working the area.
They work hard for their meals, flying at different heights around a pond or marsh then dropping their lower beak into the water.
The fish can sense the approach, scattering as the bird closes in.
Got something!
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
April 3, 2024
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 BeachI 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 BeachThe gulls actually didn’t fly and the Black Skimmer made him self comfy in the crowd.
Skimmer With Gulls At the BeachI 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 BeachSt. Augustine Beach, FL
January 21, 2023
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
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 29, 2022
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
