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
A Common Gallinule chick exploring on his own
May 9, 2022
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
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
Black Skimmers look a bit awkward just standing around.
A lone Black-necked Stilt was sharing their resting space on the dried out pond.
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.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 15, 2022
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 9, 2022
Another selection of Black Skimmers where the light was poor but the action was interesting as the birds wove around Alligators.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 15, 2022
The light was poor but the Black Skimmer action was outstanding.
The water had been allowed to drain from this pond for a few weeks as part of the vegetation overgrowth control efforts.
This left a very narrow strip of water where the fish were concentrated.
Some shore birds were feeding on the water’s edge and Black Skimmers were busy scooping up breakfast.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 15, 2022
Usually I crop bird-in-flight images rectangularly to emphasize the flight path, but this first image worked better in a 1X1 format because he was closer to the right edge of the frame.
So I picked out some others that also worked square to go with it.
The Skimmers are fascinating to watch, first flying so close together, then separating on some unseen clue.
This next one is not the perfect mirror image capture that I would have preferred. But I like it for the shadow in addition to the reflection, the second Skimmer’s wing hinting of more action, and the still visible furrow in the water where the first Skimmer had just lifted.
And I couldn’t resist another image of the Black Skimmer passing the Roseate Spoonbills.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 9, 2022
Coming through!
Impressive flying by the Skimmers
While the Spoonbills were doing their own thing
May 9, 2022
