photoartflightBlack Skimmers in Rough Surf
Posted on June 13, 2014
Some more photos of Black Skimmers showing them working and fishing in the rough surf. I am used to seeing them fish in fairly calm waters, so these seemed like a treat to see them working in a different environment than I am used to. Some of the waves coming in were quite rough, but they were just out there cutting through the water in-between the waves.
Black Skimmer “Skimming” in the rough surf. Canon EOS1D MkIV, 400mm f/4 DO IS, Canon 1.4X teleconverter, f/8, 1/1250 sec, ISO 400
Pulling up with the wave
Looking down
Photo showing Black Skimmer “hitting” something in the water. The large red and black bill is knife-thin and the lower mandible is longer than the upper. The bird drags the lower bill through the water as it flies along, hoping to catch fish. The head goes down and back somewhat when it does hit something, but not always a fish.
Showing how Black Skimmers “Skim” the water for their food.
In the Foam
Black Skimmer with beck hitting something or a fish in the water.
Black Skimmer climbing from the surf to go around again.
Three Shot Panorama with 400mm & 1.4X Teleconverter to show Waves. Shot as a burst so waves somewhat lined up for the panorama.
Black Skimmers at Nickerson Beach
Posted on June 10, 2014
Nickerson Beach was an interesting spot for bird photography. Having large groups of Black Skimmers, Common Terns and Oystercatchers. I like photographing Black Skimmers, but where I usually find them, the main group might have 50 – 70 birds, here at Nickerson Beach it was probably about 500 or so. They were off to one side of the roped off protected area to the left of the entrance. It was fun to see a group that large all of a sudden take off in such a large group. I only had my 400mm with a 1.4X teleconverter on at the time so I was only getting a small group out of the extremely large group flying by in waves. Next time I will be more prepared and have a wide angle zoom for these type of shots.
More Fighting Black Skimmers
Posted on June 3, 2014
I finished working on the rest of the files from Nickerson Beach of the Fighting Black Skimmers in Flight. This whole sequence lasted only about 4 seconds, if that. Here are a select few from 35 shots taken.
Canon EOS 1D MkIV, Canon 400mm DO Lens f/4 IS, w/ Canon 1.4X Series III Teleconverter, f/8 @ 1/1600 sec ISO 400, +0.33 exposure compensation, handheld. (Effective focal length with 1.3 crop camera body, 400mm lens & 1.4X Teleconverter = 728mm)
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