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Frames full of Skimmers

morris
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Frames full of Skimmers

Some of the most exciting moments at Nickerson Beach are when entire colonies blast off together. There are four colonies of black skimmers at Nickerson Beach each starts as about 500 individuals and grows to about 2,000 after the chicks arrive. When there is a threat to the group, they all blast off together creating chaos in the sky that even a peregrine falcon has a hard time with. The coloring of these birds looks fabulous on a gray day like this, the conditions was hot fog. These are at higher shutter speeds yet sometimes a long exposure creates magic.

Comments and suggestions welcome,

Morris

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/2000s 400 ISO +1.3 EV

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/2900s 400 ISO +1.0 EV

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/2200s 400 ISO +1.0 EV

4) Coming in to land

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/3000s 400 ISO +0.7 EV

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/2000s 400 ISO +0.3 EV

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/1500s 400 ISO +0.7 EV

Sep 12, 2023 at 08:59 AM

psharvic
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Frames full of Skimmers

Must be exciting to see. Well done, Morris.

Sep 12, 2023 at 11:34 AM

Erictator
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Frames full of Skimmers

That's a whole lotta skimmers Morris! I like the movement they bring to the shot, it's definitely not a static bowl of fruit, heh.

I've tried many times to get a sky full of sandpipers when they all lift off at the same time. I've got several actually, but I'm still looking for the perfect one that mimics M C Escher's Day And Night of interlocking birds. I've come close, but the spacing is always a little off, heh heh.

Eric

Sep 12, 2023 at 12:20 PM

Tyr-Sog
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Frames full of Skimmers

Love the perspective of the whole flock Morris.
Sometimes we get caught up in wanting that close intimate
photo but sometimes the environmental shot is just as interesting.

Justin

Sep 12, 2023 at 12:24 PM

louie champan
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Frames full of Skimmers

I think I'd have a hard time singling one out, nice job Morris.

Sep 12, 2023 at 05:48 PM

B Benson
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Frames full of Skimmers

Where is Waldo? I am happy to get just one good skimmer. Bruce

Sep 12, 2023 at 06:08 PM

dbostock
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Frames full of Skimmers

Wonderful set of images, Morris. Great shots all around.

Cheers,
David

Sep 12, 2023 at 07:16 PM

Karl Witt
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Frames full of Skimmers

#4 for the win! With #6 in second for me

Fun stuff Morris you never know until you look at the files!

Karl

Sep 12, 2023 at 09:22 PM

OwlsEyes
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Frames full of Skimmers

What a fantastic collage of birds...
Lovely!

Sep 13, 2023 at 06:07 AM

morris
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Frames full of Skimmers

psharvic wrote:
Must be exciting to see. Well done, Morris.

Thank you Vic,
Yes and also to hear as they make quite a racket

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Erictator wrote:
That's a whole lotta skimmers Morris! I like the movement they bring to the shot, it's definitely not a static bowl of fruit, heh.

I've tried many times to get a sky full of sandpipers when they all lift off at the same time. I've got several actually, but I'm still looking for the perfect one that mimics M C Escher's Day And Night of interlocking birds. I've come close, but the spacing is always a little off, heh heh.

Eric

Thank you Eric,

I've had a blast photographing flocks of sandpipers and the season for this is arriving

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Tyr-Sog wrote:
Love the perspective of the whole flock Morris.
Sometimes we get caught up in wanting that close intimate
photo but sometimes the environmental shot is just as interesting.

Justin

Thank you Justin,

I love to photograph flocks of birds. Sometimes I bring a wide lens to capture them

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louie champan wrote:
I think I'd have a hard time singling one out, nice job Morris.

Thank you Louie,
It can be hard when each has something special

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B Benson wrote:
Where is Waldo? I am happy to get just one good skimmer. Bruce

Thank you Bruce,
one time I caught a falcon in with a bunch of sandpipers

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dbostock wrote:
Wonderful set of images, Morris. Great shots all around.

Cheers,
David

Tank you David

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Karl Witt wrote:
#4 for the win! With #6 in second for me

Fun stuff Morris you never know until you look at the files!

Karl

Thank you Karl,

It seems like you are enjoying them coming at me

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OwlsEyes wrote:
What a fantastic collage of birds...
Lovely!

Thank you Bruce

Morris

Sep 19, 2023 at 04:55 PM

TT1000
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Frames full of Skimmers

Will the colonies of Black Skimmers and/or Common Terns still be at Nickerson through next week or has their migration already started? How is Jamaica Bay at this time? Is the East Pond accessible now without trekking into mud? Thanks for any insights.

Sep 20, 2023 at 02:32 AM

morris
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Frames full of Skimmers

TT1000 wrote:
Will the colonies of Black Skimmers and/or Common Terns still be at Nickerson through next week or has their migration already started? How is Jamaica Bay at this time? Is the East Pond accessible now without trekking into mud? Thanks for any insights.

I'm traveling right now so can't see my photo history yet from memory the skimmers and terns don't depart till mid October. American Oystercatchers stay a week or two longer and the numbers gather before they travel south.

I have not been to Jamaica Bay in over a month yet the last time I was there the West side of the East Pond and the blind as well as Big John's Pond were easy to reach. The South end was muddy and that is normal and the East side of the East Pond. No problems accessing the West Pond. There will be egrets and herons at Jamaica Bay all of October.

Morris

Sep 20, 2023 at 07:17 AM

gmccroskery
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Frames full of Skimmers

Excellent, Morris! A whole lot of 'skimming' going where you're at!

Greg

Sep 20, 2023 at 07:41 AM

dbostock
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Frames full of Skimmers

Very fun images, Morris. Nice work. I try this and never get the results I want...certainly not as good as yours.

Cheers,
David

Sep 20, 2023 at 08:07 AM

RockvilleBob
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Frames full of Skimmers

Nice Morris - love Skimmers - a bird created just for photographers.

Sep 20, 2023 at 09:52 AM

TT1000
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Frames full of Skimmers

Thanks.

morris wrote:
I'm traveling right now so can't see my photo history yet from memory the skimmers and terns don't depart till mid October. American Oystercatchers stay a week or two longer and the numbers gather before they travel south.

I have not been to Jamaica Bay in over a month yet the last time I was there the West side of the East Pond and the blind as well as Big John's Pond were easy to reach. The South end was muddy and that is normal and the East side of the East Pond. No problems accessing the West Pond. There will...Show more →

Sep 20, 2023 at 12:58 PM

birdied
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Frames full of Skimmers

Lovely work Morris.

Birdie

Sep 20, 2023 at 01:51 PM

morris
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Frames full of Skimmers

gmccroskery wrote:
Excellent, Morris! A whole lot of 'skimming' going where you're at!

Greg

Thank you Greg

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dbostock wrote:
Very fun images, Morris. Nice work. I try this and never get the results I want...certainly not as good as yours.

Cheers,
David

Thank you David,
Flocks are a tricky subject

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RockvilleBob wrote:
Nice Morris - love Skimmers - a bird created just for photographers.

Thank you Bob,
Indeed they are

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birdied wrote:
Lovely work Morris.

Birdie

HI Stranger! I hope all is well

Thank you,

Morris

Sep 20, 2023 at 05:09 PM

gcooke0522
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Frames full of Skimmers

Very nice work, Morris. They are a cool looking bird. Looks like they would be fun to photograph.

Gord

Sep 20, 2023 at 06:53 PM

morris
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Frames full of Skimmers

gcooke0522 wrote:
Very nice work, Morris. They are a cool looking bird. Looks like they would be fun to photograph.

Gord

Thank you Gord,

They are a lot of fun to photograph with there interesting behavers, skimming and the great colors.

Morris

Sep 23, 2023 at 08:11 AM

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