There’s been a colony of Black Skimmers hanging around the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge for a while. They’ve been fun to watch, but I missed seeing them do their namesake “skimming” for fish at the refuge.
That changed on an evening in late February when I visited MINWR and came across a lone Black Skimmer. It was skimming across a pond as the sun was setting. A few minutes later, it was later joined by several other Skimmers who joined in the fishing.
More arrived, but they just flew past overhead. Still, it was great to finally see these odd-looking birds do what they do best.
Black Skimmers, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, February 2026.Black Skimmers, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, February 2026.Black Skimmers, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, February 2026.Black Skimmers, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, February 2026.Black Skimmers, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, February 2026.Black Skimmer, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, February 2026.Black Skimmer, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, February 2026.Black Skimmer, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, February 2026.Black Skimmer, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, February 2026.Black Skimmer, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, February 2026.
Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles, American Kestrels and Northern Harriers returning to the area for winter have joined the year-round raptor residents, the Red-shouldered Hawks.
