African Skimmer

[Brendon Cremer]

Camera Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Focal Length 500 mm
Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec.
Aperture 6.3
ISO/Film 400
Something i have never witnessed, skimmers skimming on land, initially we thought it was just a mistake but then witnessed them doing this again at different nesting grounds with different colonies.

[Lorant Voros]

Very interesting behavior. I wonder why they do it. Nice exposure and sharp...reds are maybe over-saturated a bit. Pity that the bird had passed you already; would have been if you could capture it while coming towards you. Thanks for sharing and hope someone tells us in one of the comments why they skim the ground.

Lorant

[gail bisson]

Awesome behavioral shot. Love the flying sand and IQ. Perhaps they are flossing their beak?:t3 I agree about toning down the red,
Gail

[Tom Redd]

Brendon, very cool shot. Good detail, I like the BG, agree with the beak comments. Very nice.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

very nice behavioral shot. liked that blown sand. good call on the SS. Very nice wing position. I also agree that the reds look a bit oversaturated. I also see sharpening halo.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Very cool. I've only ever seen the juvenilles do that while walking as they learn the skimming behavior. Great catch . The flying sand is a plus.

[Arthur Morris]

A common behavior esp. with the young birds. With the bird angling slightly away you still managed to get a good luck at the face (that is way sharp). Yes to too much bill-saturation. Love the spray of sand.

[Brendon Cremer]

Thanks all for the great comments, will desaturate the reds at tad:w3