Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Skimming

Every bird photographer out there dreams of getting a proper Black Skimmer shot. But not just a Black Skimmer; a skimmer skimming. Preferably with calm water and a mirror-like reflection of the bird. I can now say I have joined the ranks of these people. The company is mixed, to say the least.


Many of the skimmers at the Salton Sea (where all of these pictures were taken) have skimmer bling.


Just before sunset, the skimmers were bathed in a warm, facemelting light.


Crippling views.


This is not a case of When Skimming Goes Wrong. This bird was flying along and would periodically just stop, plop down and dunk its bottom half into the water. Skimmerbath.


The moment of truth: a skimmer's neck snaps back as it's bill makes contact and clamps shut.


What a weird bird.


I wonder what the ancestor of a skimmer (a proto-skimmer) looked like. That would be an awesome fossil to find.

That's it for now. I'm still high on the Great Crested Flycatcher. See you soon.


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15 comments:

  1. Johnny NutcaseSeptember 18, 2012 at 8:39 AM

    I can't handle this, Tucker.

    ReplyDelete
  2. biobabblerSeptember 18, 2012 at 9:12 AM

    Oh happy, happy sigh.

    uh....

    skimmer amaze stupor, here.

    Congrats and tho' I would never name 1 bird species as my fave, IF I were such a labeling, judgmental person, I'd probably pick these guys. I LOVE how they all stand and point their little (not) faces in the same direction. & I'm a sucker for red & black & white.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seagull SteveSeptember 18, 2012 at 4:31 PM

      Thanks BB. Red, black and white is indeed a winning color scheme...you must be way into woodpeckers.

      Delete
  3. Jen SanfordSeptember 18, 2012 at 9:44 AM

    Bad ass. Way to show up Laurence in the skimmer department. The 4th one is my favorite.

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    Replies
    1. Laurence ButlerSeptember 18, 2012 at 1:25 PM

      Yeah no kiddin. Nice work Seagull. Once again I feel like a worthless sack o' crap.

      Delete
    2. Seagull SteveSeptember 18, 2012 at 4:32 PM

      Haha, thanks/sorry!

      Delete
  4. TammySeptember 18, 2012 at 1:45 PM

    Well, haven't you set the bar way up there. Now I'll be tempted to hit the beach this weekend in hopes to catch some skimming...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seagull SteveSeptember 18, 2012 at 4:33 PM

      Since you live near skimmers Im sure you will reset the bar soon...but they can wait, its fall migration!

      Delete
  5. JKSeptember 18, 2012 at 5:48 PM

    Wow man! Shot of bulleit rye down the hole to shot #1

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    Replies
    1. Seagull SteveSeptember 22, 2012 at 3:54 PM

      I need to get a bottle of that...its been a while.

      Delete
  6. ZielonaMilaSeptember 19, 2012 at 5:00 AM

    Beautiful photographs, birds are very photogenic. I am greeting

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bob PelkeySeptember 21, 2012 at 11:17 PM

    Once you get the skimmer skimming, the goal is to have it with prey. The birds at Bunche Beach Preserve were cooperative one day recently. Still an extremely difficult image to capture.

    ReplyDelete

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