A scoop of Black Skimmers flying past Shell Key – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 270mm, natural light
I haven’t seen Black Skimmers in over six years now but in my mind I can still hear them calling when I look at my images of a group of them in flight. A group of skimmers can be called a “conspiracy”, “embezzlement”, and a “scoop”. I like scoop because they use their bills to scoop fish from the water.
The image above was taken from the northern most tip of Fort De Soto County Park looking north to Shell Key. There was a sea fog that morning that was still hanging around in the trees on the key.
Black Skimmer skimming along north beach – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/320, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 230mm, natural light
Black Skimmers are the only bird species in the U.S. that has a larger lower mandible than the upper mandible. As they skim along they drag their lower bill in the water and when they sense prey their bill snaps shut over the prey.
They are graceful, unique, colorful birds that fish during the day and night.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Black Skimmer photos plus facts and information about this species.
Fantastic looking birds. Very unusual in flight, feeding and appearance. Overall, they get get a cool factor of 10 in my book:)
Beautiful photograph!
An education for me – and a delight. Thank you.
Nice image of the technique but it seems like a counterintuitive way to fish to me.
Beautiful photos, Mia