Oyster Catcher (Take II)

[FootLoose]

C&C Invited

#1 There's Something in Here



#2 I'll Get It


#3 Success

[IzzieK]

You always have a story with your shots, I love it. What sort of bird is it? I like the red beak...have I seen this bird before? Good sequence.

[FootLoose]

I'm pretty sure it is an Oyster Catcher, Izzie. There used to be two pair around here, and each pair was inseparable but they disappeared over summer and I spotted this one on its own a few days ago.

[deetheturk]

Really nice set Greg,lovely light on the bird.I have never seen an all black one before,the ones I have seen are black and whiteeverything else looks the samewell done bud!

David

[Stagecoach]

Clever series Greg, that's some beak he has.

Grahame

[Geoff F]

Really nice set Greg,lovely light on the bird.I have never seen an all black one before,the ones I have seen are black and whiteeverything else looks the samewell done bud!

David

Yes a different colour in Europe but I have seen similar behaviour in getting a winkle which was lodged in a crevice.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice series Greg

[Shadowman]

Nice images.

[Nancy Moran G]

Yes, quite the color! I like the soft foam in #2 best.
Nancy

[John 2]

Yes that beak is definitely Oyster Catcher. Ours are Black and white in the UK but the beak is just the same. We usually find them in big groups. Was this a loner or did you just catch it this way.

[NorthernFocus]

I love the brilliant orange beak and eyes on those guys. We saw both varieties down under. The all blacks (presumably of Kiwi origin) and the black and white pied oyster catchers. In NZ they have orange legs too. And on the south island they claim them to be unique and refer to them as SIPO (south island pied oystercatcher). We have the black variety American Oyster Catcher here in Alaska. Their legs are even paler, nearly a flesh tone, and look as if they've been wading in bleach. Interesting how wide spread they are in slightly different varieties.

[FootLoose]

Thank you to everyone for commenting.

John, this bird was on its own. I saw a single one again this morning so possibly it is the same bird -- or a potential mate.

Dan, I have seen them with the legs matching the colour of their beaks and I wonder if they change colour during the mating season, like gulls etc? Or maybe it is just a sign of im/maturity?

I prefer #2 also, Nancy. I wondered how the bird knew not to move when the wave came in because other waves were much larger and would have covered it. It didn't even blink an eye, so to speak.