Oyster Catcher Collection

[NorthernFocus]

In the post on Gulf Coast Birds I mentioned having shot oyster catchers in Oz and NZ previously. So here are a few more of the recent American Oyster Catcher shots from last week and one each of those shot down under.

As always best viewed in the light box for native resolution.

American Oyster catchers. Nikon D7100 w/AF-S 80-400mm VR

1)Left side


2)Right side (look close it is actually a different bird from no.1)


3)Topside


4)Bottom side


5)Landing


And from New Zealand in 2008. Shot with D200 and 55-200mm VR.

6)Variable Oyster Catcher


7)South Island Pied Oystercatcher (aka SIPO)


And an Australian Oyster Catcher shot in 2013 w/D7100 and 300mm f4.

8)Maybe it's just me but this one looks just like the SIPO

[Shadowman]

Very nice series.

[Nicks Pics]

I like your up-side down-side right side left side approach. Some of these birds look very similar.

[selig1656]

Great series , on some of them the Blue water seems a little over saturated to my taste. Excellent series .

[bnnrcn]

Grear series Dan. And the bird is a beauty with its colors

[IzzieK]

All very nice and sharp, Dan...I like the flying series ones. Aw! I like all of them.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, everyone. Glad you enjoyed the photos. I love the colors on these guys.

...on some of them the Blue water seems a little over saturated to my taste...

Then you may want to avoid vacationing in the Bahamas, Hawaii, on an offshore cruise, etc.

Actually I was rather pleased with how the water colors came out. The water in that location was kind of a dirty olive drab color and not very photogenic. You can see it fairly closely on the back of the wave just in front of the bird's beak in no.3. The blue comes from the reflected sky which was crystal clear deep blue that day. In situations like that the apparent water color changes dramatically with angle to the surface, angle to the sun, background, etc.

Water color in photography is an interesting topic that deserves a whole tutorial written on it (by someone with more time and energy than me).

[Barbara Ponder]

Great shots! I especially like #5 for it's wing position. I took some shots of one a few months back and was enchanted by their feet which look like they have been freshly pedicured with painted toe nails.

[Brownbear]

Beautiful set... My favourites are 4,5, and #8. With #8 being my top choice, something about the isolation of the bird and the gorgeous colours is especially artistic.

[rpcrowe]

Really very nice captures...

[bobfriedman]

nice shots... great bird to photograph

[Bobobird]

Lovely series. Enjoyed (actually taking a 2nd look).

[Wavelength]

Outstanding, as your images are used to be

[Kaye Leggett]

Great presentation of a superb set of photos

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks, everyone, for the comments. Glad you enjoyed the birdies. They are pretty and fun to watch through the lens. As much as I like my BIFs, of this set my fav is no.2 because it displays all of the attributes of the bird. Including the pedicure, Barbara

Beautiful set... My favourites are 4,5, and #8. With #8 being my top choice...

I think it's knowing that one was shot with the same kit that you shoot