Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Black Skimmer

Linking up with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes and NC Sue Wordless
I hope you can join in and share your wild birds and nature scenes.

For this week's wild bird I am featuring the Black Skimmer.  They are grouped with the Laridae family of gulls, terns and kin.

These photos are from our last visit to Cape May, NJ early in July. The Black Skimmer have an awesome long red and black bill.


They have a black back and cap and white underparts and red legs.  They are one of my favorite water birds to see in the summer months.




I am so happy with the zoom on my Canon SX40. It is great for taking closeups of the birds on the beach without disturbing them. I hope you enjoyed my wild bird and post. Thanks for stopping by and for the nice comments.

Till next week's wild bird post. Join in and post your birdies and to see more beautiful and wonderful bird and nature photos please visit:

 Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Michelle's  Nature Notes and NC Sue Wordless

Thanks to all of our hosts. Michelle for Nature Notes and Stewart of Wild Bird Wednesday and Sue for Wordless Wednesday.


  Happy Birding and have a wonderful week!

69 comments:

Sue said...

Those are a pretty bird! Eileen-you certainly get to see a wide variety of birds. Glad you share them with me (us!)
:)

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

yes the zoomson camera is great nowadays as these shots show.

Nancy J said...

Those colours are superb, how nature blends them all together, and what a great zoom. I have been looking at all the blogs this last week or so, but too tired to do comments each time, I think the last few months are catching up , but slowly am feeling more likemy usual self.

Seraphinas Phantasie said...

Hi Eileen,
fabulous photos of this very sdpecial bird. I´ve never seen them before.
Great !
Best regards, Synnöve

Phil Slade said...

I'm glad you are enjoying your new camera Eileen. Taking photographs adds a whole new dimension to birding. If the birding is a bit quiet you can concentrate on taking photographs. If the birding is pretty good anyway there are lots of birds to snap - win, win. I love the Black Skimmers with their anvil bills - brilliant.

Nancy Chan said...

I was searching for the eyes. The black feathers camouflaged the eyes. Very striking colours of white, red and black!

Stewart M said...

These would have to be in my top 10 'birds I'd like to see'! Maybe even the top 5 when I think about it!

Great pictures.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

chica said...

São lindos esses pássaros e parecem estar vestidos de gala,rs...beijos,chica

diane b said...

They have a fancy beak, very colourful bird with his white underpants.

Jo said...

Your zoom certainly delivers beautiful images, Eileen. Hope you're enjoying a great day. Jo

Caroline Gill said...

I can see at once, Eileen, why this is a favourite water bird! The colours are striking, the shape elegance itself and the bird is all together stunning ... wish we had them here! But we do have some terns ... Thank you for your comment on my toad.

Bethany Carson said...

Love their awesome coloring! The red in the beaks and legs really adds some nice contrast with the black and white...and I love my very similar camera as well!

MadSnapper said...

so pretty and they look like penguins with long orange beaks... i have only seen them here a couple of times. your canon and you did a great job

Lynne said...

Fancy looking chap . . .

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Isn't it wonderful how Nature adapts and specializes?! Delightful. YAM xx

Kerri Farley said...

Beautiful birds! Love that beak!

Crafty Green Poet said...

Great photos, they are such unusual looking birds with those odd looking beaks

DIMI said...

Hello Eileen!!
The Black Skimmer is such a beatiful bird!!
Great captures!Excellent shots!!
Gorgeous pictures!I really engoyed your post!!
Have a lovely week ahead!Hugs!
Dimi...

Gail said...

Wonderful. I rarely can catch a bird on camera but I keep trying.

Linda W. said...

I really like this bird's beak!

Debbie said...

i love these guys, the only place i have ever seen them is cape may in summer. and right now, it's way too hot for me to go, we will go again when the weather cools, september-ish!!!!

Ileana said...

I´ve never seen this bird before. Beautiful!

21 Wits said...

I think this lovely bird is related to the superheroes of birds. You could almost miss his/her eyes! Lovely captures Eileen!

Bob Bushell said...

The Black Skimmers are beautiful, and good for you having found your new camera Eileen.

Existe Sempre Um Lugar said...

Boa tarde, excelente encontro com as lindas aves que originou fotos maravilhosas.
AG

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Lovely birdies, Eileen!

I saw the title and had dragonflies on my mind..."I've never heard of a Black Skimmer Dragonfly!"

I was trying to get pics yesterday of several different kinds, and they were completely uncooperative except for one small Halloween Pennant.
~

Tom said...

Every time that I come here I learn a new bird. Tom The Backroads Traveller

Gattina said...

What a strange bird, have never seen one like this !

Cloudia said...

cool photos of a cool bird!

Silver Parrot said...

I love skimmers - their beaks are so unusual-looking!

Marco Luijken said...

Hello Eileen,
Very nice shots of these very special birds.
They looks great with their wonderful beaks.

Many greetings,
Marco

Our photos said...

That is a pretty bird !

This N That said...

I use a Cannon SX50 and SX30..Both great little cameras..Love that I don't have to change lenses..moon shots without a Tripod..They are keepers..Love your Skimmers..Pretty birds..Good pics..Thanks for hosting..I'm not sure I have a bird post that I haven't used..I'll check..Have a great eve..

Ranten said...

Hi! Funny birds :-)) And beautiful butterflies you have taken pictures of! Marit

The Yum List said...

The black band of colour across the top of the head makes the bird look like it's wearing a mask. :-)

Rohrerbot said...

Nice closeups of them on the beach. I've only seen these birds once and would love to see them again. You have really captured them nicely here. Their bills are HUGE! They are odd looking and memorable birds for sure:)

Unknown said...

Almost as pretty as the terns :)
They look a bit blind, as if
they pulled their cap a bit too deep :))

Have a beautiful day!
Möwe

Elizabeth Edwards said...

for me it reminds me of a penguin. guess the coloring ... what a cutie. have a great week, Eileen. hope it is a cool one. take care. ( :

Merlesworld said...

They are very striking birds, but the eyes are not visible.
merle........

Jacqueline said...

What a stunner this one is! Such a pretty bird with that color on it's beak!

GreenComotion said...

Wow - what a beauty! I have never seen this bird before, even in a magazine.
Thanks, Eileen!
Have a Great Week!
Peace :)

TexWisGirl said...

they're really cute. :)

Maude Lynn said...

What a cool bird!

magiceye said...

Very pretty bird!!

Uppal said...

Awesome colorful beaks!

EG CameraGirl said...

Oh how I envy how close you live to so many wonderful birding area!

Kathie Brown said...

Eileen, what lovely images if the skimmers! I have not seen any in a long while. It would be nice to see some again!

Laura. M said...

Beautiful and rare bird. Eileen good photos.
I return to publish on the blog, the hand is bien.Gracias pus and your good wishes :))
Besos.

Stephanie said...

Super shots of this pretty bird.

Rambling Woods said...

I'm glad you are happy with your new camera and you got some wonderful shots of a bird i had not even heard of... Michelle

Jemma@athomewithjemma said...

Such pretty birds, they remind me of a variety of the Toucan family.
Years ago we spent two different occasions in Costa Rica and saw Toucan's and beautiful green parrots freely flying all about!
Have a great afternoon,
Jemma

Lowcarb team member said...

Great pictures Eileen and I do agree ... what an awesome long red and black bill they have.

Hope your week is going well.

All the best Jan

NatureFootstep said...

I still have not seen it !!! But your images is the second best :)

Suzan said...

Such neat little birds!!! It looks like they have no eyes :-}}
Skimmers are fun to watch! Bet this was a fun day at the beach!!

Anonymous said...

Great images! So glad you're happy with the camera. It makes a world of difference.

Hannah said...

Those black and white shore birds are so adorable, I love the oversized orange and black bills of the skimmers, they always look so amusing, I would love to see some. So nice to see yours.

Rose said...

I had never heard or seen these before. They sure are an odd looking bird.

Anonymous said...

Hi Eileen, These are such bright lovely birds! Such personalities. Have a great Thursday tomorrow!

Anonymous said...

The Skimmer is a lovely bird.

Adam Jones said...

Such incredible looking birds. I love how they use that huge bill.

Noushka said...

Oh my, those Oyster catchers are incredible!
How I wish to photograph them one day!
Lovely pictures, Eileen!
Enjoy the end of the week :)

Red Nomad OZ said...

Wow! They are SO dramatic with those black, white and RED markings! They're a bit like some of the terns we see down here, but the RED really makes them stand out! Hope your week is going great :D

Kate said...

Beautiful photographs. They are very regal looking birds.

Mary Howell Cromer said...

My they are quite striking and very interesting looking birds, very nice Eileen~

Pat Ulrich said...

Always love to see skimmers -- great shots!

Ida said...

Such a unique looking bird. Their beaks are so different. Sort of reminded me a bit of (candy corn).

orchid0324 said...

Dearest Eileen; Wow, what a Fascinating zoom pictures of the beautiful and colorful bird, Dear friend♡♡♡
Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

Leora said...

What wonderful colorful birds! Maybe next summer I will convince my husband and daughter to return to Cape May. Of course, I will mostly want to see the birds and the flowers.

Debra said...

Oh, these are gorgeous photos!

Happy Monday!

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