18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
black wing skimmer on the Gulf of Mexico

During sunset on the Gulf of Mexico in Bradenton I love to look for right around sunset the skimmers coming down into the wind for the last meal. They nest on Anna Maria Island and it is a gift to see them in there acrobatic flight techniques to be able to skim up a meal on their way home to nest. They are lower beak is longer than their upper speak and their wings band is beautiful. I caught this picture as this beautiful bird was flying home. It’s almost as if she/he turned and smiled as I snapped a shot

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2016
Date Uploaded: 11.2020
Photo Location: Bradenton, Fl, United States of America
Copyright: © Davis Graham