#blackskimmers — Public Fediverse posts

Good morning. 😎✌️🍵

21 August 2026

My fingers need to get a tappin’, because it’s a walk day and I want to git‑er‑done before it warms up too much. Truth be told, I might end up doing the walk before I finish my morning rant — priorities and all that.

If only I could think. As Quick Draw would often say, “I’ll do the thinnin’ around here, Baba Louie.” And this morning, my brain seems perfectly happy to let him.

Is it just me, or does anyone else find it hilarious that Underdog’s girlfriend’s name is Sweet Polly Purebred? I mentioned it to my wife, who didn’t find it nearly as funny as I do. But as an adult, the name hits different. The writers slipped in satire that kids would never catch — a little jab at pedigree, genetics, and social class wrapped in a Saturday‑morning cartoon. Genius, really.

Another name that comes to mind is Pepé Le Pew, who had an ongoing crush on Penelope Pussycat — the black cat who always seemed to end up with a white streak of paint down her back, making her resemble a female skunk in Pepé’s eyes. For some reason he insisted on calling her Fifi, one of his many over-the-top French pet names. Meanwhile, Penelope spent every episode trying to escape his romantic advances.

And then there’s Dick Dastardly’s dog, Muttley. He’s a favorite of mine because his sly little snicker reminds me of the look Charlie gives me when we’re playing catch and he decides it’s time for keep‑away instead. I’ll reach down to grab his toy, and he gives me that mischievous side‑eye before pulling it away — pure Muttley energy.

“Reality continues to ruin my life.” — Bill Watterson

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” — Roger Caras

“Humor is reason gone mad.” — Groucho Marx

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #morning #cartoons #satire #shorebirds #blackskimmers

Good morning. 🏗️🏗️🏗️

30 July 2026

When you look at this picture, does anyone else immediately think “Imperial Walkers?” The cranes have that same looming, mechanical posture — like they’re about to start marching.

Turning to Star Trek — back when I was still working, I had a coworker I’d tease, in the friendliest way possible, about being a Trekkie. He wasn’t one, but I kept nudging the joke along because it amused both of us. I don’t even remember how it started; it just became part of the daily rhythm.

At one point, I printed a Starfleet Academy diploma I found online, put his name on it, and hung it on his wall. It took him weeks to notice, but once he did, he kept it.

Eventually, I found the perfect way to finish the bit. I came across a Star Trek uniform shirt for sale, bought it, and had my wife embroider his name on it. Then I hung it above his desk like it was his official Starfleet assignment. Honestly, it’s probably still there.

Why go through all that trouble? Because that’s how you build camaraderie — the small, shared jokes that make people feel like they’re part of something together. I had other running gags with other folks, but this one was the clearest example. Not everyone enjoys a little ribbing or a harmless prank, but that’s life. The people who do? They remember it.

“The only way to have a friend is to be one.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.” - G.K. Chesterton

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” - Henry Ford

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #morning #cranes #blackskimmers #starwars #startrek #camaraderie #blackskimmers #jokes

Skimmer Swarm

The photo is of hundreds of black skimmers, mostly silhouettes swarming in a blue, white, and gray cloudy sky.

Discover nature's fleeting moments through my lens—visit my photo gallery to see more.

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebirds #blackskimmers

Good morning. 🌊⛵🪂

9 July 2026

I was just thinking about the first movie I ever rented to play at home. I don’t even recall the name of the movie, but it ended up costing me dearly. It was a VHS (Video Home System) tape back when they were first becoming popular. I had purchased a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder), a VHS player/recorder from Montgomery Ward. It was the kind where the head rose out of the center of the top of the device, and you inserted the tape and closed it like a little hatch. It even came with a remote control — an early model, because it had a long cable running from the remote to the recorder. It makes me chuckle now just thinking about that. The recorder itself sat atop a console TV; remember those? They were the living room centerpiece. If you were born in the 21st century, you probably don’t remember them at all.

Anyway, the problem with my first movie rental was that my VCR ate the tape. After I managed to untangle the ribbon from the bowels of the machine, I tried to make it good again by manually rewinding and smoothing it out, but it was really toast. Back then, movie rental businesses were small operations, and they lasted until the big‑box stores like Blockbuster started popping up everywhere. I imagine they operated on tight budgets, so when I took the tape back and explained what had happened, the shop owner wasn’t sympathetic toward my point of view. On top of the original rental fee, I ended up paying an additional $40 to replace the tape. Back then, $40 for me wasn’t exactly chump change. When I think back, I still feel like $40 was a little high for a tape, but it was what it was.

“Technology is a word that describes something that doesn’t work yet.” — Douglas Adams

“We do not remember days; we remember moments.” — Cesare Pavese

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #morning #vhs #memories #blackskimmers #shorebirds #beach

Gathering at the Shore

There were no nonconformists among this flock of black skimmers (Rynchops niger) at Gulf Port, Mississippi last fall.

If you enjoy wildlife and nature photography, check out my photo gallery here:

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebirds #blackskimmers

Flock in Flight

A flock of black skimmers (Rynchops niger) fills the air over Gulfport, Mississippi.

Discover nature's fleeting moments through my lens—visit my photo gallery to see more.

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebirds #blackskimmers #flock

Flag and Feathers

I took this photo of hundreds of black skimmers sweeping past a prominent building near the docks in Gulfport, Mississippi. I played with the light to create a sky washed in deep orange, leaving the birds and the building softly pale against it.

The photographs I share here don’t appear as vivid as they do in my Pixel’s gallery. To make them load more easily, I reduce their size and slightly lower their quality. Take a look:

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #blackskimmers #Gulfport #shorebirds

Tide Dancers

Here’s a photograph of a gathering of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) at Gulfport, Mississippi. Every time we visited, I ended up taking hundreds of pictures of these fascinating birds, so I like to post one every now and then.

If you enjoy wildlife and nature photography, check out my photo gallery here:

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebirds #blackskimmers

Pier, Ocean, and Avian Symphony

This is a seascape captured one morning at Gulfport, Mississippi. The ocean stretches out toward a long pier in the distance, its red‑roofed gazebos standing out against the horizon. The sky is an intense, almost unreal blue, with dark clouds drifting across it. Hundreds of birds—likely black skimmers—are flying away in a great sweeping movement, some still close enough to see clearly, others already far off in the distance.

For those who love skies set ablaze with color—sunsets that linger, clouds that speak in texture and light—my gallery holds a collection crafted just for you.

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #landscape #seascape #blackskimmers #flock #sky

Skimmer Sky

In this photograph, hundreds of black skimmers (Rynchops niger) fill the frame, sweeping from right to left across a backdrop of blue sky and billowing clouds.

The photographs I share here don’t appear as vivid as they do in my Pixel’s gallery. To make them load more easily, I reduce their size and slightly lower their quality. Take a look:

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebirds #blackskimmers

Passing in Formation

I captured this image of a flock of birds passing over the water at Gulfport, Mississippi. Or perhaps it’s two flocks in quiet procession. In the foreground are royal terns (Thalasseus maximus), their crested heads and sharp orange beaks cutting through the air. Farther out from shore, trailing low and deliberate, are black skimmers (Rynchops niger), distinguishable by their dark plumage and elongated lower mandibles.

If you enjoy wildlife and nature photography, check out my photo gallery here:

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebirds #RoyalTerns #BlackSkimmers

The Birds

These are black skimmers (Rynchops niger), I took this at Gulfport, Mississippi.

Discover nature's fleeting moments through my lens—visit my photo gallery to see more.

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #flock #shosrebirds #BlackSkimmers

Wings of the Horizon

In this photograph, a dark ocean stretches across the foreground, its surface gently rippled by low waves. The sky above is overcast, painted in muted shades of blue that suggest a quiet, contemplative hour. Just above the horizon, hundreds of black skimmers (Rynchops niger) surge through the air in a sweeping formation. Their silhouettes—long-winged and knife-beaked—fill the frame from edge to edge, extending beyond its borders as if the flock cannot be contained. Out at sea, they move as one: a living ribbon of flight etched against the sky’s soft gloom.

Discover nature's fleeting moments through my lens—visit my photo gallery to see more.

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shosrebirds #flock #horizon #ocean #GulfofMexico #BlackSkimmers

The Waiting Flock

One year, during an overnight stay in Gulfport, Mississippi, the beach was alive with flocks of black skimmers (Rynchops niger). As they rested on the sand, each flock formed a dense mosaic of black, white, and vivid orange—like a living tapestry woven from feathers and beaks.

Discover nature's fleeting moments through my lens—visit my photo gallery to see more.

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebirds #BlackSkimmers

Good morning. 😴😫☕

3 June 2025

I’ve definitely got a case of morning-head today. First thing I did? Spilled the beans—literally. I went to fill the grinder and ended up scattering coffee beans all over the counter. Probably didn’t get enough sleep last night; I was wilding out into the scandalously late hour of… after ten. Yep, totally out of control—watching a movie. There was a stretch in my 20s when I’d stay out at the clubs until sunrise, five or six nights a week. Monday was my recovery day, and somehow, I still managed to function. I survived it, but barely. Luck definitely did some of the heavy lifting. Eventually, the idea of “responsibility” began to trickle into my brain—slowly, reluctantly, like it wasn’t quite sure it belonged there.

“Character—the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life—is the source from which self-respect springs.” — Joan Didion

#morning #responsibility #birds #shorebirds #RoyalTerns #BlackSkimmers

Hear ye, hear ye: Summer has arrived!

#birds #birding #BirdPhotography #summer #BlackSkimmers #GoneToCarolinaInMyMind #nature #NaturePhotography #SolaceInNature

Good morning. 😴🥱💤

27 May 2025

I woke just after three this morning to the rumble of a passing thunderstorm. Knowing dogs don’t care much for storms, I opened the bedroom door and let Charlie in. As tired as I was, sleep wasn’t an option, so I abandoned the idea and made my way to the recliner—only to find that wasn’t working either. Might as well brew a pot of coffee.

While going through the motions, I realized we were running on generator power again—second time in two days. That reminds me, I’ll need to check the fuel level later this morning, along with the oil, since it’s been working overtime. But for now, I think I’ll give the recliner one more shot.

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain." – Vivian Greene

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #morning #storm #sleep #flock #BlackSkimmers

Good morning. ☕☕☕

14 April 2025

Do you ever feel that sense of morning haze, where all you want is to lie back, stare into space, and empty your mind? I believe it’s often referred to as “mind fog.” It feels as though your brain hasn’t quite shifted into gear to take on the day. That’s exactly where I’m at right now. This morning, when I opened the door to let Ben and Charlie out, birds and squirrels scattered in every direction, leaving the bird feeder toppled on the ground. I just looked at it and thought, “Eh.” Struggling through morning tasks feels a lot like drifting aimlessly from one thing to another, waiting to land in a chair—like a butterfly coming to rest on a flower. It must be Monday morning.

"Hello, Monday! May I ask you a question? Why are you always back so quickly? Don’t you have a hobby?" - Unknown

#photo #photography #photographer #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #morning #monday #BlackSkimmers #BlackandWhite #BrainFog

Good morning. ☁️🌧️😪

30 March 2025

I believe the barometric pressure is on the lower side of normal, which might contribute to the feeling of sleepiness. When the pressure drops, the air becomes less dense, so we inhale less oxygen with each breath. It’s fascinating, though I can’t claim to fully understand it. Many years ago, during college, I took a freshman course in Physical Geography. In that class, I learned about clouds, air currents, ocean currents, weather, rocks, and soil. While I’ve forgotten much of what I learned back then, I do remember why the Atlantic coast waters are warm and the Pacific coast waters are cold. After all these years, it’s amazing how the natural world continues to intrigue and inspire curiosity.

"Conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative. - Oscar Wilde 😉😏

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #BlackSkimmers

Good morning. ☁️🕊️☁️

5 March 2025

I need to get a haircut, but since today is Wednesday, my barber is closed. Funny enough, I had the exact same thought last Wednesday—yet here I am. It takes a bit of effort to clean up, get in my car, and drive the 15 minutes to the barbershop. Haircuts used to be a necessity for me, but now they’re more of an option, something I only consider when my hair starts bothering me. Honestly, it’s too gray and too thin in places to fuss much about appearances. A short cut around the sides is practical, though, as it doesn’t interfere with my hearing aids. Anyway, long hair and bell-bottoms are mostly out of style.

"Babies haven't any hair; Old men's heads are just as bare; between the cradle and the grave lie a haircut and a shave." - Samuel Hoffenstein

#photo #photography #photographer #wildlife #nature #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #morning #haircut #BlackSkimmers #flock #BlackandWhite #silhouettes

Skimmer Symphony

These black skimmers (Rynchops niger) were at Gulfport, Mississippi a couple of years ago. That year there were so many birds on the beach that I might have been able to take pictures blindfolded.

"A long-winged bird with stark black-and-white plumage, the Black Skimmer has a unique grace as it forages in flight. Skimmers feed by opening the bill and dropping the long, narrow lower mandible into the water, skimming along until they feel a fish. Then they relax the neck, quickly closing their jaws and whipping the fish out of the water. Because they feed by essentially by touch, they can even forage at night." - allaboutbirds.org

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade and visit my photo gallery at:

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #birdphotography #BlackSkimmers

Happy #NationalBirdDay!

#birds #birding #BirdsOfMastodon #shorbs #BirdPhotography #BlackSkimmers #VacationBirds #WrightsvilleBeach #wildlife #WildlifePhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #SolaceInNature #DelightOverDarkness

One of my favorites from 2024. Black Skimmers are such cool birds, from their graphic colors to their barking yip calls.

#birds #birding #BirdsOfMastodon #shorbs #BirdPhotography #BlackSkimmers #VacationBirds #WrightsvilleBeach #wildlife #WildlifePhotography #nature #NaturePhotography #SolaceInNature

Aerial Ballet of Black Skimmers

These black skimmers (Rynchops niger) were at the Gulfport, Mississippi beach a little over a year ago. That year, the there were thousands, perhaps several flocks of the birds settled on the shore. I went back last this year (2024) at about the same time of the year and there were some but not nearly as many as before.

I don't post all of the photos that I post here to my Pixels gallery, but I post the photos I like best. Some don't make the cut. I usually wait a couple of days and see how I feel about it then.

You can check out my gallery at:

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #birdphotography #BlackSkimmers

Morning Gathering on the Sandbar

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #birdphotography #RoyalTerns #BlackSkimmers

Where is the Focus

In this crowded photograph of black skimmers (Rynchops niger), the focus is beyond the closest bird. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I think it is okay.

I've had several inquiries about how to get a print of some my photographs. This is a hobby for me, so I haven't been equipped to handle those requests. But I enjoy what I'm doing and want to share my photographs.

So, I set up an account and website with pixels. My website is:

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

If you want a print of one of my photographs, you can get it there, If I haven't loaded it, let me know which one it is, and I'll gladly load it there for you.

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #birdphotography #BlackSkimmers

Here we have the ocean and sky. Also, a flock of black skimmers (Rynchops niger) swarming low over the water. I took this photo at Gulfport, Mississippi on the Gulf of Mexico. I'll be returning there this November and hope to see these birds again.

My photo gallery contains more that 700 images that I've chosen to share. Most are there for their visual appeal but there are a few novelty images. You can check out my gallery at:

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #birdphotography #BlackSkimmers #flock #ocean #GulfOfMexico

Good morning. 🕊️🦅☁️

19 September 2024

Good lord, Ben got me up again at 0430 this morning. This is what? the third morning in a row. Unfortunately, I think this is the current trend. He comes to the bedroom door and just starts barking. He likes to sleep under our bed at night, but I recently started making him sleep in his bed in the family room because he was disturbing my wife's sleep during the night. She isn't gifted with bad hearing like me. Hmmm ... for every action there is a reaction.

We are having a pergola build in our back yard, construction starts this morning some time. Last night, I was thinking about the pigeons and whether or not they will defile the pergola. Wait and see.

"There is a price to pay for most of our actions. For every action, there is a reaction." - Giancarlo Esposito
#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #birdphotography #morning #reaction #BlackSkimmers #clouds #sky

Black Skimmers are such cool birds, from their graphic colors to their barking yip calls.

#birds #birding #BirdsOfMastodon #shorbs #BirdPhotography #BlackSkimmers #VacationBirds #WrightsvilleBeach #nature #NaturePhotography #SolaceInNature

Twilight flight.

#birds #birding #BirdsOfMastodon #shorbs #BirdPhotography #BlackSkimmers #sunset #VacationBirds #WrightsvilleBeach #dusk #nature #NaturePhotography #SolaceInNature