Black Skimmer Fun

Black Skimmer

The last couple times I've visited Ponce Inlet near Daytona Beach, FL, I've been greeted by upwards of 100 Black Skimmers.  These wonderful creatures are unique in the bird world--check out their bills.  They're the only American bird where the lower mandible is longer than the upper mandible.  Look at the bird from the side, and the bill seems rather thick, but from the front the bill is razor thin.

Black Skimmer

Black Skimmers

Even more fun is their unique feeding style.  They fly low over the water and skim the water with their bills in search of small fish. The lower mandible slices through the water, and when it gets a fish, the upper mandible closes down on the fish to capture it.

Black Skimmer

Black Skimmer

Black Skimmer

Black Skimmer

Black Skimmer

I like to see them when they're resting.  They rest their heads on the sand, and it looks like they've tuckered themselves out so much they can't hold up their bills anymore.

Black Skimmer

Black Skimmers are related to Gulls and Terns. They average about 18 inches in length and have a wingspan of about 44 inches. I love capturing images of them in flight.

Black Skimmers

Black Skimmers

UPDATE: Heidi noticed in a comment below that one of the birds in the photo above has a fish hook lodged in its throat.  Here's a cropped image showing the bird.  

Black Skimmer

When the wind is blowing, look for them to be lined up facing into the wind.

Black Skimmers

Black Skimmers

Black Skimmer