Tag Archives: Ocean Shore

Birds, Black Skimmer, Marsh, Ocean Shore, Wildlife

Like A Jet, But Catching Fish, Skimmer

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These shots were taken after the Black Skimmers third pass. If you’re lucky a Skimmer will be catching enough fish to create a routine on where they skim the surface.

Like A Jet, But Catching Fish, Skimmer
Like A Jet, But Catching Fish, Skimmer

Watching for a pattern is probably one of the few things that can help get a shot. That pattern, usually twists and turns. In this case he flew along the marsh edge, turned away from us through an opening, and suddenly came right by. Basically left to right, with a twist.

Like A Jet, But Catching Fish, Skimmer
Like A Jet, But Catching Fish, Skimmer
Like A Jet, But Catching Fish, Skimmer
Like A Jet, But Catching Fish, Skimmer

From our point of view it meant catching the bird coming  in from the right at maximum focal length, then as he disappeared pull back to almost the minimum length. The next return path was that close.

The good news was once the Skimmer was past us we had a few minutes before the next try. It was a big marsh he was working. Time to plan, and laugh. Which we did plenty of, well mostly laugh.

Birds, Ocean Shore, Pelican, Shore Bird, Wildlife

Floating Pelican

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Pelicans are another of those birds that don’t need to do a single thing to make a great photograph. They have that much character.

Best viewed large.

Floating Pelican
Floating Pelican

This bird flew in, landing close to us, and was as interested in us as we were in him.

Floating Pelican
Floating Pelican
Floating Pelican
Floating Pelican

I’ve been told Pelicans can feel vibrations in the water through the tip of their beak. This helps when fishing and alerts them to any danger.

Birds, Ocean Shore, Pelican, Shore Bird, Wildlife

Brown Pelican

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I grabbed these shots of a Brown Pelican as he turned to land just off the shore. I didn’t think I would catch the bird since the surface was a bit rough and hard to keep focus. I did catch a long series, except only the first two images were clean enough.

Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican

A short time after this one dropped down several more joined him and we were able to watch them close by until the sun was completely gone.

Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican

We had no plan this particular evening other than see the sunset. Brown Pelican are a great added bonus. 😁

Birds, Egret, Marsh, Ocean Shore, Wildlife

Reddish Egret

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This bird is the rarest and least studied of all the wading birds (Wikipedia). Egrets are part of the family that includes Herons, yet they are the least known because they have a very small habitat.

Reddish Egret
Reddish Egret

Reddish are larger than most waders, only the Great Egret and Great Blue Heron are taller.

Reddish Egret
Reddish Egret

In these photographs the unique color is obvious. Getting this color in an image  is usually hard because they are always out in the open, sunny, salt water. Almost like shooting a Glossy Ibis, angle and softer light are need. Which I have no control over at all LOL.

Reddish Egret
Reddish Egret

These birds are a photographers favorite. I’ve seen people run away from beautiful flocks of Spoonbill because a Reddish was spotted nearby.

Guilty as charged.

Birds, Marsh, Ocean Shore, Pelican, Wildlife

Eating Machine, Pelicans

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White Pelicans use the age old hunting method of driving their prey in front of them. In a large group they push right through any schools of fish found. They also pull up all types of vegetation which can be seen below. I’m not sure how much of that is eaten.

Eating Machine, Pelicans
Eating Machine, Pelicans
Eating Machine, Pelicans
Eating Machine, Pelicans

When Pelicans fly over and see a group fishing they just drop right in the pack and join in.

Eating Machine, Pelicans
Eating Machine, Pelicans

I had a good spot for this flock and was able to shoot some good closeups.