Wait.. that's not a black skimmer

 

THIS is what black skimmers look like. Sleek, black and white, big black and red beak. 

Along the coast of South Jersey there are places set aside for them to nest. The sign says the area is closed so endangered birds can nest: plovers, least terns, and black skimmers. 

I was down the shore last week, walking past one of these areas on the beach, and I saw this from a distance. The bird at the right rear is sitting on a nest, a simple depression scraped in the sand. 

But it wasn't a black skimmer at all. This is an American oystercatcher. I absolutely mistook it for the skimmer I expected to see. In my defense, it's black and white with a big attention getting beak. It's not endangered, but is considered to be "of special concern" because of its low numbers and its vulnerability to habitat loss and human disturbance. 

It seems able to recognize a good nesting spot when it sees one, though, even if its name is not on the signs. Click to enlarge.