Found in the Clutter – Black Skimmer

Black Skimmers are common along the Gulf and southern Atlantic coasts of the US. They do migrate a little further north along the coast in the summer, from the Carolinas up to the southern coast of New England. But they are a very uncommon sight north of Cape Cod. This photo was taken on the Merrimack River off Newburyport near the mouth of the river in October 2019. As the name suggests, these birds use their extra long lower beak to skim the water and grab small fish. This pair of Black Skimmers found a school of small fish and were both successful in snatching a meal.