Thursday, April 26, 2012

Skimmer Swarm



In my continuing endeavors to avoid showing everyone pictures of desert birds, you will instead be forced to look at this ball (deathball) of Black Skimmers at Crown Point, in San Diego. Here you see some unsuspecting sap about to be engulfed by The Swarm.


After devouring their first victim, the skimmers turn to the suburbs to inflict their wrath on San Diego.


This is the last thing some people ever see. The horror.



While watching skimmer flocks, you will occasionally see some large beaks clashing above the rest of the birds. It reminds me of Narwhal Spar.

Note also that I have unknowingly photographed a Red Knot. Red Knots are neither common nor approachable birds here on the west coast, and I've never intentionally photographed one. How embarrassing.



I bet the bird on the left won.



They are such oddly-shaped birds. I don't even know how they work.


This one is doing some maintenance.


Out with the old, in with the new.


I hope you all enjoyed the local skimmer swarm. May you be blessed by this swarm, or another, in the very near future.

20 comments:

  1. I like it. Skimmers always seem to me to be like the more bulky, cool, leather-wearing harley-riding cousins of the delicate Black-Necked Stilts.

    You're a brave man getting into that fray for your photos. Those journalists over there in the Middle East got nothin' on ya.

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    Replies
    1. It was very brave of me, I can admit that. I'm surprised I wasn't skewered.

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    2. Nor Skimmered! Many the man has lost his head to a low-flying Skimmer!

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  2. dude they have no eyes

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    Replies
    1. That's true! How creepy...they are like the hagfish of the skies.

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  3. I love Skimmers, I think they are one of the most interesting birds to watch. I especially love how they sleep; sometimes I think they look a lot like the passed out drunks laying not to far from them on the beach....

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  4. Look how many fucks that guy is giving about birding.

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    Replies
    1. He's actually avoiding looking at them. Bro knows they are better at catching fish than him.

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  5. I refuse to read any posts until I see a cactus wren.

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    Replies
    1. Alas, that bird remains on my unphotographed list.

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    2. Phainopeplas will have to do.

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  6. Nice shots! Skimmers are one of my favorites. Unfortunately I only saw a couple on my last trip to SD and didn't get any photos. I'll have to go back soon!

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    Replies
    1. I kind of blundered into them...I was following an Ebird lead for some relatively unbirded area and it actually worked out.

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  7. Skimmer swarms will give me nightmares tonight. Seriously holding out on the desert birds till I am actually in the desert myself, huh? I won't care anymore then!!! I will look at your birds and yawn!! You've lost me.

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  8. you and your red knot. huh. i wanna be swarmed by skimmers! i miss them. i do.

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    Replies
    1. That's what I will name my next blog...Me And My Red Knot.

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    2. Perfect. DOn't think I won't remember this promise. (oh yeah, it's a promise)

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  9. Sounds kind dirty, but would be a great name for a cocktail. Bourbon based of course.

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