BLACK SKIMMER – Weblog Submit Sequence #64
Central Valley Birds and Birding: – Over 300 wild hen species both reside in or go by means of California’s Central Vally regularly. The intent of this weblog is to ignite a spark of curiosity in our followers that motivates them to study extra about these wild inhabitants and the environs they frequent. A Reflections of the Pure World Weblog Submit Sequence hosted by Jim Achieve
TAXONOMIC TREE: Charadriiformes, Laridae, Rynchops niger
CENTRAL VALLEY BIRDS & BIRDING: Black Skimmer
The Black Skimmer, considered one of North America’s most distinctive coastal waterbirds, is famous for its uncommon voice, invoice, and feeding habits. Its invoice—brightly coloured, laterally compressed, and knife-like, with the decrease mandible extending past the maxilla—is uniquely tailored to catch small fish in shallow water. A feeding skimmer flies low over the water with its invoice open and its decrease mandible slicing the floor. When the mandible touches a fish, the higher invoice (maxilla) snaps down immediately to catch it. (from Birds of the World)
WHAT’S IN A NAME
BlackSkimmer – Rynchops nigra
Rynchops Greek. ῥυγχος rhunkhos invoice; L. niger black, darkish colored, shining black, jet black
DISTRIBUTION
HISTORY OF BLACK SKIMMER OBSERVATIONS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY
- 1986 KERN Co (2 adults, 3 juvs) – eBird Guidelines 1986-07-19 Cliff Peterson and Mark Chichester on the Evaporation Ponds (KER Co.)
- 2013 KERN Co (1 grownup) – eBird Guidelines 2013-07-22 first seen by Mark Stacy, additionally seen by 9 others (JoL, DaF, StSu, FOl, JiL, JoLo, LiPi
- 2017 YOLO Co (1 grownup) – eBird Guidelines 2017-07-04 first reported by Ed Harper and Hugh Dingle, additionally seen by 16 others
- 2020 KERN Co – eBird Guidelines 2020-07-18 first reported by Mark Stacy, additionally seen by Steve Summers, Susan Steele, Bob Steele and John Luther
- 2021 KERN Co (2 adults) eBird Guidelines 2012-08-02 by Logan Kahle
- 2022 CONTRA COSTA Co (1 grownup) – eBird Guidelines 2022-07-05 first reported by Jerald Britten and Srikant Char
- 2024 STANISLAUS Co (2 adults) – eBird Guidelines 2024-06-08 first reported by Jim Achieve
OBSERVATION ANECDOTES
I had signed as much as hen the Modesto Secondary Wastewater Therapy Plant (Restricted Entry) on Saturday, June eighth within the hopes that I’d discover a BROWN PELICAN, that might be a brand new county hen for me. Different Brown Pelicans had been reported in San Joaquin County and I wanted one so as to add to my whole species seen in Stanislaus County. I stood at 299 species seen and I used to be clearly hoping for #300! I had rigorously toured a lot of the facilty with out luck once I thought I noticed a flock of Marbled Godwits on a mudflat. I shortly stopped and received out my scope in order that I may confirm what species they had been and what number of. Marbled Godwits are a uncommon, however common migrant and I wished to make sure and to then {photograph} them for the document. As I scanned the shoreline anticipating to see chunky long-legged and long-billed shorebirds, I used to be not ready for what was sitting there as calmly and serenly as might be. Stretching and pointing their payments to the sky, payments that had been shiny pink and black, our bodies with pure white faces and bellies, and black as coal backs and wings, a pair of BLACK SKIMMERS! One was clearly bigger by about 25% over the opposite. I instantly grabbed my digital camera and began taking pictures. One thing spooked the entire birds and I picked up on the pair as they circled away, however then turned again in direction of me flying in entrance of me to land near the place they had been earlier than. Stanislaus County species #300 was within the bag!
Oh, I by no means did refind the godwits…
PHOTO GALLERY (FROM THE MODESTO WATER TREATMENT FACILITY)
PHOTO GALLERY (FROM SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX)
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