Sunday, August 26, 2012

A Few More Beach Birds

We spent another morning at Jetty Park on Friday. Not only did we enjoy a beautiful morning, but there were plenty of birds to enjoy as well! 

Black Skimmer

This Black Skimmer looked like some of us feel by Friday! While it looks like this Skimmer may have crashed and burned, it is actually just resting. That large bill gets heavy!

Black Skimmer

Black Skimmer

Last week there was quite a bit of skimming action going on, but this week, with the exception of a few joining the group, the Skimmers were all resting. I counted 32 of them with 8 being juveniles.

Willet

This lone Willet was practicing its one legged balancing skills.

Magnificent Frigatebird

This juvenile Magnificent Frigatebird took a brief break from soaring the high skies to make a low pass along the beach where the large group of Terns, Gulls, and Skimmers were resting.


After a quick check of the beach action, the Frigatebird was gone. This is the second Frigatebird I've seen at Cape Canaveral in past month.

Red Knot

This nonbreeding Red Knot was foraging in the swallow tide with two others. Other birds that we observed include Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns, Least Terns, one Long-billed Dowitcher, one Semipalmated Plover, and numerous Sanderlings.

30 comments:

  1. Your beautiful pictures make me so envious! I haven't been birding in FL in years and I've yet to see a Mag. Frigatebird. Might be down that way this next spring....hope to get a little birding in.

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  2. Great sequence of stories! I really like the frigatebird.

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  3. Your first photo of the resting Black Skimmer is hilarious, Tammy.. i love your reference to their heavy beaks :>)
    Stunning series of photos as always, Tammy.

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  4. Nice captured Tammy!!!
    I love the crash and burned bird:=)
    Greetings / Kenny

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  5. Great series Tammy, especially the third one is really great, well done.
    Greetings Irma

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  6. So very nice to see these fantastic pictures, compliments Tammy.

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  7. i always think the skimmers are so cool with that insane beak, but that first shot is hilarious! poor guy! love the frigatebird, too! you get to see such great birds!

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  8. Love those Skimmer images Tammy, makes me miss seeing them though. At least I can see your images of them. Love the other images too.

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  9. Buenas capturas Tammy,me gustan especialmente las de la Fragata.Saludos

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  10. That top shot is excellent, as are the others. Looks like a bad crash landing.

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  11. Your first shot had me laughing! It reminds me of a tired squirrel! :-) Love the Willet photo...awesome! Gorgeous Red Knot shot, too! All nicely done.

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  12. Hi Tammy !
    See on the news here that a hurricane is coming against Florida, hope you are safe and still producing beautiful photos
    Lorents H

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  13. Oh man you get some awesome birds... Super jealous of the frigatebird especially. Love that resting skimmer shot too!

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  14. Ohh!!! What a beautiful bird (Black Skimmer).. Fantastic.. and funny.. Best regards Tammy

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  15. Great images. Wifey these birds while we sailed out from Port Canaveral last Sunday. She is glad to know what they are now.

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  16. You have featured some of my favorite birds today!:) The Willet being one, the Mag. Frigatebird is a real treat....and the Black Skimmer is new for me so I appreciate you showing them over your past posts. What a cool bird! Hope you had a marvelous weekend. We had a fantastic hike up the canyons and spotted lots of birds....several lifers for me.

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  17. I love your first picture, I had no idea that birds actually lie down! Always a treat to see the variety and the shot/angles you take of these wonderful birds.

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  18. Skimmers are weird. I just hung out with a bunch yesterday...strange creatures. Great shot, obviously, I like the knot too. I'm glad you were blessed by a frigatebird, they are the best.

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  19. Tammy, such gorgeous photos! I'm sooo jealous of your skimmer sightings/shots! We moved to Florida last Nov., bought a house near the NE coast this past April, and a month later we left to work in Hawaii for 4 months..cannot wait to get home to explore the birding areas where we live. I'd only seen one skimmer and didn't get a photo. Your Blog is a sight for sore eyes even though I am seeing a handful of neat, new birds here on the big island. Thank you for sharing your beautiful artwork.

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  20. Impresionantes Tammy. Saludos desde Extremadura.

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  21. Magnific shots,great job!!

    Salut, Francesc

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  22. As usual, all really nice photos. I especially like the one of the black skimmer in flight. Great capture!

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  23. I know next to nothing about shore birds and take great pleasure viewing your images. Absolutely beautiful!

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  24. Amazing shots Tammy! Love the first Black Skimmer shot, looks like how I feel! The Knot is my favourite though! :)
    J
    Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES

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  25. Fantastic series Tammy!
    The first one of the Black skimmer is quite incredible...
    I never thought a wild bird could rest in such a position! LOL!
    Lovely general lighting on all your subjects!
    Cheers!

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  26. I need to get out to that park sometime. I've never been there. Love that frigatebird!

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  27. oh how precious and sweet they are!! first and fourth images are my favorite. you are always so great!! I wish I could visit once a place like this..
    hallo,
    Dany

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  28. Beautiful photos as always!
    The first one of the Black Skimmer is stunning, love it!

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  29. Oh my gosh, I love the Skimmer laying in the sand! That is too funny. Your shots a spectacular as always :)

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I greatly appreciate your comments!