Tag Archives: Black Skimmer

Shore Birds Standing in the Surf

December 5, 2017 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

I got another opportunity to photograph Black Skimmers last week when a small group along with some Terns visited the same sand bar where I saw them two weeks ago. This Royal Tern had a few things to say.

When I first spotted them there were some Pelicans in the mix but they didn’t hang around. The tide was nearly out and this group of smaller birds seemed content to let the water lap around their legs. I didn’t see any of them feeding.

After the tide turned they shifted as a group a few times, going into the air, doing a few loops and settling just a couple dozen feet from where they started. It was only when a couple of bicyclists and a family with a baby carriage came along that they left.

Click on any photo for a larger view.

Shore Birds

Black Skimmers Coming In

November 17, 2017 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

Black Skimmers by the hundreds flew down the beach and landed on a sand bar exposed by the low tide.

Black Skimmer Flock – a few Gulls and Terns joined in

There were so many birds it was hard to chose where to photograph.

As the tide covered their original landing place they lifted off in groups and circled around to another appealing spot.

We had the good fortune to watch this for over an hour until we were driven out by the incoming tide.

Shore Birds

Black Skimmer: You Are In My Space

November 16, 2017 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

A huge flock of Black Skimmers came in to the edge of the beach at low tide. These few had separated from the group and appeared to want to rest but just couldn’t leave each other alone.

“Akkk, I’ve been goosed!”

Indignant, he moved off without looking back.

You can see the Skimmers’ unique bill clearly in this photo: the lower mandible is longer than the upper. They feed by skimming over the water dragging the lower bill in the water picking up fish.

Click on any photo for larger view.