Black Skimmers

Here is a photo of a Black Skimmer taken at the tip of the island yesterday morning. I love to watch these birds feeding along the edge of the water. They fly with their lower bill below the surface of the water, scooping up small fish. Note the upper portion of his bill is shorter than the lower.

I don't see Black Skimmers often along the more populated stretches of Pensacola Beach, but within Ft. Pickens and Santa Rosa areas of the Gulf Islands National Seashore they are more plentiful. In fact, there is a whole colony of them in one area. You may click HERE to learn more about these unusual birds.