I spotted this Ring-billed Gull just before he hit the water.
There wasn’t much of a splash and the gull’s wings never went under the surface.
One powerful beat of his wings and he was up.
A small splash and he was away.
Wasting no time, he sped off before one of the other circling gulls or terns noticed his catch.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
December 25, 2021
A little dance after bath time.
And a bow.
SanderlingFolly Beach, SC
October 14, 2021
With places to go this Sanderling passed me by on the run.
Hardly touching the ground he zipped along.
Full steam ahead!
Folly Beach, SC
October 14, 2021
A Black Skimmer entertained me early one morning with his graceful water-level hunting on an old rice field pond.
All I saw him catch on that pass was a strand of grass.
July 4, 2021
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
Birds flying in tight flocks fascinate me, leaving me wondering how they communicate that synchronized take off, flight and landing. And of course I have to try to photograph them at it.
I saw this flock take off from a mud flat then make a quick u-turn.
They looped around the pond a few times then landed pretty much where they started.
A Yellowlegs was picking his way through some marsh stubble on a recent grey morning.
It was late afternoon and windy at the beach when I spotted a Willet hunting in a tidal pool.
Often these shore birds go back and forth in the same pool, probing around the edges for food.
This time the wind kept him moving further down the beach.
He was having success at finding some snacks.
Gulls and terns were snagging lunch out of the pond and flying off to eat it on a recent gorgeous blue-skyed day.
The gulls will try to steal another bird’s catch so a successful hunter will quickly move on to a safer spot to eat.
Most of the catching was on the other side of the pond, swooping away from me.
This tern opted to fly low with his catch.
While a gull took off higher before disappearing over the marsh.
August 4, 2020
Further along in my walk after photographing The Amazing Hover, 1 I spotted another hunting Least Tern.
It was interesting to see the bird from a head-on angle, and how his wings worked.
He moved very little, hovering in place. I had no trouble staying focused on his position.
And I got the start of a dive. Unfortunately my view of the surface was obstructed and I missed the splash and couldn’t tell if he caught a fish.
