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Shooting Black Skimmers

As many of you know, Black Skimmers are my favorite photo subject. The action is lightning fast, the birds are beautiful and they are only seasonally available. Well the birds are back at St Marks NWR and I would like to share some of this weekends experiences and photos. Heres something I want to RAVE about.

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An early arrival Saturday to find the birds and a place to shoot them without spooking them.
The extended drought has left this wet, mushy seagrass as the only place to sit.

Note: Bring something to sit on next trip!

photo of hal4455
posted by hal4455
4 months ago
Well the skimmers are flying through pods of baitfish concentrated by the drought. Here comes the first one now.

This view certainly shows how a bird that looks like a Toucan from the side can glide so effortlessly through air and water. A very thin frontal profile.

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posted by hal4455
4 months ago
The skimmer dips the bottom half of his beak into the water to scoop a fish at speed.


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posted by hal4455
4 months ago
The action attracts the attention of other birds.


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posted by hal4455
4 months ago
A pair of juvenile White Ibis wander by.


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posted by hal4455
4 months ago
At the end of each run the Skimmers take a big turn and come thru the baitfish pods again.


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posted by hal4455
4 months ago
Apparently "How low can you go" is a big deal with these birds.

This one is in very shallow water.

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posted by hal4455
4 months ago
Much like photographing them, when fishing they miss a lot!


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posted by hal4455
4 months ago
The birds are very manueverable and even though low to the water can still make turns while fishing.


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posted by hal4455
4 months ago
Well someones having some success .

A Tricolor Heron

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posted by hal4455
4 months ago
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