Author Topic: A Morning at the Beach  (Read 5210 times)

ArthurDent

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A Morning at the Beach
« on: July 21, 2019, 04:07:32 »
We spent the morning today at Indian Rocks Beach near Clearwater, Florida at a Black Skimmer rookery. We were trying to get photos of the Skimmers skimming, but they didn't cooperate and only a few were flying, so I ended up taking photos of quite a few other birds as well as the few skimmers that were flying. Here's a sampling. All images were taken with the Nikon D500 and 300mm f/4 PF lens.

Netr

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Re: A Morning at the Beach
« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2019, 04:17:40 »
Nice shots. "Snack" is what HCB would have called the decisive moment.

ArthurDent

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Re: A Morning at the Beach
« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2019, 04:22:38 »
I had to get up at 3:45 AM in order to get to my friend's house by 5 AM. Then it was a two hour and 30 minute drive to the beach. But it was worth it, we saw some interesting birds doing some interesting things. Here are a few more images:

ArthurDent

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Re: A Morning at the Beach
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2019, 05:05:57 »
Nice shots. "Snack" is what HCB would have called the decisive moment.

Thanks!

Hugh_3170

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Re: A Morning at the Beach
« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2019, 07:56:06 »
Some interesting shots here Arthur - rewards for the early start.

"Trolling" is new to me.  Another decisive moment?
Hugh Gunn

Bent Hjarbo

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Re: A Morning at the Beach
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2019, 09:16:22 »
Very nice and interesting pictures, thanks for sharing.

ArthurDent

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Re: A Morning at the Beach
« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2019, 13:26:41 »
Some more images. Other birds use the Skimmer rookery as a place to raise their young. An example is shown in the second image, probably reduces chances of predation.

ArthurDent

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Re: A Morning at the Beach
« Reply #7 on: July 21, 2019, 14:06:52 »
Thank you Hugh and Bent!

Hugh- The reference to trolling is to dragging a bait behind a moving boat to induce a fish to strike, perhaps it is a peculiarly American term, or maybe just inapt in this situation. Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain an image of a Skimmer  catching a fish on the fly, which would have been the true decisive moment.