Only child! (I don’t think that other egg in the back is going to hatch. None of the other birds where claiming it.)
Family portrait. This couple was going to be busy feeding three.
“Mom, I’m hungry.”
“Who gets the first fish?” The one closest to the parent must have been a day old. He still had wet feathers.
“Ohhhhh!” That fish is almost as big as the baby.
Going down.
This one got a tiny fish.
It’s summer and too hot to be inland so I’ve been heading to the beaches more. That means more baby shorebirds. I can’t help but keep visiting the skimmer colony to see the babies. Most of the eggs have hatched even though there are still a few late bloomers coming. There are hundreds of teeny tiny babies running around the roped off area. The parents are busy flying back and forth between the surf and the nests bringing in fish for the babies. Right before sunset is the busiest with babies being fed one last time before dark. I just plop down on the sand and watch the tiny skimmer world in action. It’s like watching “The Truman Show” for birds. I hope you don’t get too bored with my baby skimmer pictures. My hubby asks me “How many pictures are you going to take of those birds?” My answer? “Thousands.”
they’re adorable! and so vulnerable!
Beautiful birds….my husband asks me the same thing. When I have him take pictures of my working my honeybees he thinks one or two at a time is enough….sometimes they are blurry and a few more shots might catch something unusual. I’m like you…I just keep clicking away and sometimes I get a big surprise in one of them.
Great Post! wonderful photos! Thank you!
It is such a miracle that journey between birth and adulthood…you did an amazing job in capturing the first steps.
These are great, Dina! Such cute little babies. You’re lucky to live so close.
What a treat to see these amazing birds through your eyes! And who would have guessed how hard it is to eat a little fish? If I were there, I’d be laying in the sand, too, and my husband would be wondering the same thing.
I don’t blame you, Dina, they are totally adorable. I love the one with the “big” fish. The look on the fish’s face is hilarious.
Keep ’em coming!
K
I can relate, Dina. I would fill up a memory card, too, watching those cute little things. Well done. 🙂
The baby skimmers are so cute, great sighting and photos.
Superb series on the Skimmers! Really nice quality on your photographs. Hope I can do as well some day!
Those babies are so cute. Great series of stills and video.
What was that mother thinking, feeding the baby a fish that large. They are so cute and I enjoyed the video shared.
Fabulous shots! The babies are adorable!
Incredible Dina! Makes me want to fly back home to Florida this very instant. These are wonderful photos. The big fish one is great, but the one of the mom feeding the baby, with her big big beak …. and that tiny helpless little thing, that’s just heart-stoppingly beautiful.
(I’m glad they have a relatively safe roped off area to grow up in.). And do keep ’em coming. No way could we ever get tired of these!