Black Skimmers

[ngannet]

Here are my first Black Skimmer photos. Taken with Rebel XT and Canon 400mm f/5.6L. Handheld. This was in Stone Harbor NJ on a NARROW bridge (about 2' of standing room) with cars whizzing past. The whole time I was there skimmers kept flying over the bridge every few minutes, so I managed to get a few shots. Remember I'm no expert and did no touching up other than auto enhance and unsharp masking.

[dancinec]

I like the second shot best. If you could have caught it with the lower beak dragging the water, it would be perfect. Nice job.

[ngannet]

Thanks! Yeah, I wish I could have gotten them skimming. Tough to shoot sometimes, but I'll get them eventually! Here's one I forgot about. Most of these shots were taken from quite far away.

[CyberDyneSystems]

There wild looking birds! Great shots :)

[AJ Montgomery]

Cool birds and no better place to stand? These guys are fun to watch and now you have to get the money shot . . . while they are skimming, bill in the water! Have fun and watch your #*&!@ (backside)!

[Paul A]

Wow, nice pics, I can't believe the coincidence, I was at Bolsa Chica Wetlands reserve in So. Calif. and I got my first Black skimmers, I will post them soon. These birds are too cool, we've only had them in Calif for a few years, probably came from Texas.

[ngannet]

Cool birds and no better place to stand? These guys are fun to watch and now you have to get the money shot . . . while they are skimming, bill in the water! Have fun and watch your #*&!@ (backside)!

Yep, I was looking for that shot and I'll try again next weekend probably. The bridge was a good place to stand as they were going directly over it within 20' of me or less at times. Next time I'll get closer to the water and LOW to see them skimming! I was just excited to get them at all. My old camera was just too slow to capture them.