Skimmers at the Largo Botanical Gardens

At the start of summer 2007, We had just discovered the Florida birding trail, and were eager to catch as many of
our feathered friends on film as possible. One weekend we decided to explore the Largo Botanical Gardens. While
wandering thru the woods we came across a series of Retention ponds that a huge numbers of birds was hanging
out around. The birds were feeding on the immense number of Frogs and Tadpoles that filled these ponds to the
top. A birdie smorgasboard. All the Birds fought like cats and Dogs for their little spot on the edge of the pond.
Due to the drought Florida was experiencing these ponds were shrinking by the day.

There was every kind of bird imaginable! From Wood Storks and Ibis’s to Every kind of Egret, including Snowy
Egrets, Night Herons and Blue herons, one cool Cormorant and Lastly one very large well fed alligator.

Then one day the Skimmers arrived! I had never seen this type of bird before. They Fly with the precision of a
navy aerobatic team. They swoop in shortly after Sunrise. Skimmed in patterns close to the edges and thru the
middle, attempting to catch the Tadpoles and Frogs by surprise. They scooped up a bunch in their large lower beak
and they were gone. Blink and you would miss them.

Date Taken: 05-26-07 Sunrise
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:1/320 F-Stop:f4.8 ISO:100
Focal length:102mm Lens:Nikon 70-300 VR

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