The Birds of Summer

Or, how to photograph "chicks on the beach"

An American oystercatcher with its chick on Nickerson Beach, Long Island, NY | © Jason P. Odell

Summer is the breeding season for shorebirds, and for many species, they call the sandy dunes of Long Island, NY home. From late June through August, you can get close up and personal with these birds as they tend to their nests. I suppose “nest” is a bit of an exaggeration here, as usually its just a small depression in the sand. How these birds can find each other after returning from a fishing trip offshore is quite impressive. Here are the three major players you can see on the Atlantic coast every summer.

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Common terns on Nickerson Beach, NY

The common terns start nesting early and by late June, many of them have chicks in their nests. These impressive flyers swoop over the waves and over the dunes as they locate their families. They are also very protective of their territories; the often swoop at human visitors walking past their breeding grounds. That being said, they generally acclimate to the human presence quite quickly, and you can easily photograph them on the beach.

American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)

American oystercatchers on Nickerson Beach, NY

Oystercatchers are one of my favorite birds to photograph. They have a distinctive orange beak which can contrast wonderfully with the green dune plants and the blue ocean waters. Oystercatcher chicks start hatching in late June through July, and they are born precocious, meaning they are walking around with their parents within a few hours. I had the privilege of photographing one that was only a few hours old, and I watched as the parents encouraged it to feed.

Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)

Black Skimmers at Nickerson Beach, NY

Skimmers are pretty wild-looking birds. They have a deep bill, and the lower bill extends beyond the upper one, making it look like they have an underbite. While their bills look large in profile, you’ll quickly discover that they are razor thin when viewed head-on. Skimmers get their name from their foraging behavior; they glide just above the water’s surface and then dip their lower bill into the water to catch small prey. Skimmer chicks start hatching in late July into August.

Bird Photography Workshop on Nickerson Beach: July 28-31, 2025

I’ve arranged a photo safari and workshop to experience the birds of Long Island, July 28-31, 2025. Here, you’ll not only get to experience birding season, but I’ll be there to work with you to personally improve your photography. With four days of shooting, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to master the skills necessary for capturing stunning bird photos.

What’s Included:

• Pre-workshop online webinar Q&A session with me

• Hands-on field instruction and photography sessions at Nickerson Beach and surrounding areas

• How to set up your camera to capture stunning images of birds in flight

  • Exposure and autofocus settings, including subject-detection options in mirrorless cameras

  • Camera support techniques

  • Creative bird photography including portraits, birds in flight, and long exposures

• Classroom Topics

  • Workflow for wildlife photography

  • Processing the wildlife image

  • Sharpening and noise reduction techniques using modern AI-based software

• Image review and critique sessions