“When we contemplate the whole globe as one great dewdrop, striped and dotted with continents and islands, flying through space with other stars all singing and shining together as one, the whole universe appears as an infinite storm of beauty.” ~ John Muir
Low Tide - ©ingridtaylar
Crow Foraging at Low Tide - ©ingridtaylar
Surf Scoter Foraging at a Mussel Bed - ©ingridtaylar
Sea Star Overturned by Gulls - ©ingridtaylar
Gull Foraging at Low Tide - ©ingridtaylar
Gull Chase - ©ingridtaylar
Goldeneye Diving for Food - ©ingridtaylar
Diving Duo Goldeneyes - ©ingridtaylar
Goldeneye Catch - ©ingridtaylar
Goldeneye with Catch - ©ingridtaylar
Ingrid,
The behavior shown in your Scoter images is fascinating to me because I don’t get to see that where I live. Wonderful action images and I especially like the starfish and its beautiful reflection. Nice low angle on the crow and gull!
Mia, thank you. This is the first time I’ve seen a scoter foraging above the water line. The tide was so low, fresh mussels were easily exposed. I really wish I could get an eye-level perspective, because I’ve found they like this area around the pier and I’m likely to see them there. But the only vantage point for photos is from the railing above — unless I get in a wetsuit which would really freak them out.
They’re not too disturbed by humans in general, which is unusual for scoters. But I think it’s because they feed at this marina whenever the tide is low, during their wintering months here. I noticed it’s the man-powered boats that really spook them: canoes, kayaks. They’ll take off en masse and often won’t return that day, if such a boat comes around. I’m supposing it’s because being diving ducks, they’re often hunted from sculls. But I can’t say for sure that’s why.
Beautiful quote by John Muir – So appropriate for such stunning images. Thank you!