spiritual skimming – Black Skimmer at night in Central Park

Phew

had an extraordinary experience at the Model Boat Pond (just south of the Met Mus of Art) in Central Park, NYC.

22:30, pitch dark, two Black Skimmer going back and forth through the reflections of the city lights… they passed withing 5 metres of me! Got some video footage with small camera in nightshot mode.

One of my most amazing N American wildlife experiences so far!

Frame grab from video footage – added to blog page Fri 20 Jun. These tern-like birds feed by flying very low over the water, their lower mandible dropped down to scythe through it. When they touch a small fish or tadpole or whatever, the bill snaps shut. It’s supposed to be one of the fastest reflexes ever measured in any vertebrate.

Adam