Another part of the on going Black Skimmer series.

This was taken as the Skimmers began to make tighter circles around the open marsh, making a low quick passes right in front me. At my feet,  so I had to shoot everything close, fast, and at the shortest possible focal length for my lens.

Usually I don’t keep photos with grass, clipped wings, etc. But I also don’t have Skimmers in my face either.

Above,  the grass was on the bank of the marsh, I was looking down or straight ahead as this Skimmer looked for minnows.

And then caught one.

That bill is perfectly designed for skimming along the surface of water. As soon as the bird feels a fish, the bill snaps shut…and of course his head snaps down from the force of the water.

Above is the skimming trail from his open beak while flying by.

Right before reaching the end of open water the Skimmer pulls up and makes a sharp turn and quickly heads to next open location.

These birds make a path from one spot to another, turn and repeat the same routine back where they came from. Because they repeat the path you can (maybe) be in the right spot when they come by again.

Bear Island WMA, ACE Basin, South Carolina.