Texas Skimmers
Rynchops niger
I usually see Black Skimmers performing the aerial skills on smooth glassy water, because wavy, choppy water can be hazardous. There *were* crashes. I met these birds after my third day of exploration of Aransas NWR aboard the “Skimmer”. There was still time left in the day for explorations. I found a nice place to park next to Little Bay and photograph local resident birds.
The Black Skimmer is a specialist feeder. Though it may not look like the rest of its cousins, it is considered a proper member of the tern family. It’s a wonderful sight to watch these birds forage over the still waters of a bay or lagoon.
These birds are members of the nesting community in South San Diego Bay, where I have been privileged to accompany biologists on their tern surveys during nesting. Caspian Terns have a reputation for aggressiveness and attacking intruders, but the only blood-letting episode I have witnessed was caused by a Black Skimmer wing-whipping my friend Brian from behind, giving him a bloody ear.
From 1966 to 2015, the Black Skimmer has decreased its population by 4% per year, resulting in a population reduction of 87% over that period. They have been designated as a “species of high concern”. There are many obstacles to their nesting success, not the least of which is their dependence on beach sites loved by homosapiens for recreation.
For a visit to San Diego nesting colonies and other locations where I’ve met these birds, click <HERE>.
7 Photos

Black Skimmer(Rynchops niger) |
Description: I usually see Black Skimmers performing their aerial skills on smooth glassy water, because wavy, choppy water can be hazardous. There *were* crashes. I met these birds after my third day of exploration of Aransas NWR aboard the “Skimmer”. There was still time left in the day for explorations. I found a nice place to park next to Little Bay and photograph local resident birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 17:15 |
Location:
Little Bay |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: BlackSkimmer_D504939-Rockport-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black Skimmer(Rynchops niger) |
Description: I usually see Black Skimmers performing their aerial skills on smooth glassy water, because wavy, choppy water can be hazardous. There *were* crashes. I met these birds after my third day of exploration of Aransas NWR aboard the “Skimmer”. There was still time left in the day for explorations. I found a nice place to park next to Little Bay and photograph local resident birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 17:14 |
Location:
Little Bay |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: BlackSkimmer_D504930-Rockport-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black Skimmer(Rynchops niger) |
Description: I usually see Black Skimmers performing their aerial skills on smooth glassy water, because wavy, choppy water can be hazardous. There *were* crashes. I met these birds after my third day of exploration of Aransas NWR aboard the “Skimmer”. There was still time left in the day for explorations. I found a nice place to park next to Little Bay and photograph local resident birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 16:51 |
Location:
Little Bay |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: BlackSkimmer_D504632-Rockport-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black Skimmer(Rynchops niger) |
Description: I usually see Black Skimmers performing their aerial skills on smooth glassy water, because wavy, choppy water can be hazardous. There *were* crashes. I met these birds after my third day of exploration of Aransas NWR aboard the “Skimmer”. There was still time left in the day for explorations. I found a nice place to park next to Little Bay and photograph local resident birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 16:46 |
Location:
Little Bay |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 500 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: BlackSkimmer_D504529-Rockport-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black Skimmer(Rynchops niger) |
Description: I usually see Black Skimmers performing their aerial skills on smooth glassy water, because wavy, choppy water can be hazardous. There *were* crashes. I met these birds after my third day of exploration of Aransas NWR aboard the “Skimmer”. There was still time left in the day for explorations. I found a nice place to park next to Little Bay and photograph local resident birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 16:40 |
Location:
Little Bay |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 460 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BlackSkimmer_D504447-Rockport-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black Skimmer(Rynchops niger) |
Description: I usually see Black Skimmers performing their aerial skills on smooth glassy water, because wavy, choppy water can be hazardous. There *were* crashes. I met these birds after my third day of exploration of Aransas NWR aboard the “Skimmer”. There was still time left in the day for explorations. I found a nice place to park next to Little Bay and photograph local resident birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 16:40 |
Location:
Little Bay |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 460 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BlackSkimmer_D504439-Rockport-TX |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black Skimmer(Rynchops niger) |
Description: These weren't the best skimmer images I've taken, but they help to document the story of birds on this voyage. My third day of exploration of Aransas NWR was a memorable one. I boarded the tour boat the "Skimmer" and got schooled by Captain Tommy Moore on a three plus hour cruise of the back-bays and waterways beyond the view of the public from the tour roads on the reserve. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 11:05 |
Location:
Aransas NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: BlackSkimmer_D503733-BoatRide-Aransas-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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