Black Skimmer
This morning in the marsh pond we had a black skimmer show up and make a couple of passes through the water before heading back toward the ocean. You can see a pair of egrets in the background in the first photo. In the last photo, the water under the bird is bubbling up and almost looks like it’s boiling. Actually, it’s all the fish swimming and jumping in a panic when they see the skimmer flying over them!
Phil Lanoue Photography 
The first photo… You totally nailed it sir!
Thanks very much I appreciate that! Normally I like to get photos of skimmers, skimming. But as the breeze increased the water didn’t look as good so I went with some regular flights.
I got lucky last month when a seagull turned and went straight at me. It was during the eveningsun and the angle was spot on! http://bjorntorngren.com/2013/06/24/midsommarkvallens-fangst/
A few photos down…
That looks very good and a terrific series there overall!
Well I had to zoom in a lot and with a 55-250mm 1:4-5,6 I didn’t really captured the deer. But what an experience!
Yep, that first one is good, Phil. Well captured banking between the pair of egrets(?).
Thanks a lot Steve, glad you like that first shot, it was actually the first shot I took this morning of the skimmer as soon as it showed up. Didn’t realize I had it until later. And yes those are egret sin the background and the small blue blob is an adult little blue heron.
I never realized what very long wings these birds have! Love that first photo.
Yes they sure do have some good size wings and they are also very fast flyers.
Glad you liked these skimmer pics,
Number 1 does it for me too! Love it!
Thanks Judy, glad you liked #1 which is beginning to look like our clear favorite! 🙂
Wow Phil, awesome photo’s, the first one is super.
Another vote for #1, thanks Jan.
The first photo was just amazing, love your pictures!
That first photo is pulling into the lead! 🙂 Thanks very much for checking these out!
Love seeing your pictures, so much inspiration! So thank you for that! 🙂
I greatly appreciate your very kind comments!
Well, I appreciate your very nice pictures :))
Panic would be right. That’s hilarious. How deep into the water do they go to get fish?
It is pretty funny to see. Well, for me anyway, probably not too funny for the fish.
The skimmers only go as deep as the lower portion of their bill will extend into the water.
Don’t know if you ever saw all these here:
https://phillanoue.com/skimmer-photos/
Oh, also saw a spoonie this morning!
Wonderful to have a Black Skimmer in the house…
Yeah I always love seeing these guys! Thanks
What great pics, Phil! They are such fascinating birds – I love the detail in the last one!
Thank you so much Maggie, I appreciate your kind comments!
Fantastic photos. I especially like #1!
Thanks much Molly and looks like #1 is our winner.
The Black Skimmer really is a pretty bird. I never saw one before that I am aware. They really live far south of us. Beautiful images of it Phil. The orange beak is quite a beacon.
They are very attractive birds and wonderful to see them in action, and yes that orange sure stands out!
What a great bird. I so love the first photo especially.
Thank you Andrew, and looks like another vote for #1
I think I’ll go for #1, too. Seeing them in action (and the fish panic) is great, but seeing that wing span is very impressive as well.
Hey thanks Gunta, and yes #1 does show the wing span of this fine looking bird.
Great shots!!!! First and third one shots are awesome!!!
I really appreciate you checking these out, thanks!
Thank you so much Mr. Lanoue,
Now that I am back home after visiting Huntington Beach SP, I can relieve it the joys of the park
with your pictures!! lynn
Thanks very much for looking and commenting Lynn and I’m glad you enjoy the photos!
What an exquisite set of photographs of the black skimmer! Why is it called that I wonder?
Shakti
I’m happy you liked these photos!
These birds fish by ‘skimming’ along the water placing just the long, lower portion of their bill into the water in hopes of plucking out a fish as they fly or ‘skim’.
See many examples of their fishing technique in my gallery here:
https://phillanoue.com/skimmer-photos/
In that case I would also jump in panic! 😛 Nice pictures! ▲
Oh I would too! Thanks, glad you enjoyed these photos!
Wow! Very cool photos!!
Thanks so much Deb!
Oh WOW! Cool shots of the skimmer fishing!