Monday, October 26, 2009

Oystercatchers and Gulls

Pied Oystercatchers are quite common around the bay but I seldom see the Sooty Oystercatchers as they prefer rocky headlands rather than the sandy stretches of the bay. I saw this Sooty Oystercatcher with the Pied Oystercatchers out at Inskip Point.
While watching the other birds I could hear a constant 'peeping' sound which I tracked down to this juvenile Silver Gull which was begging for food from the adult. The adult ignored it but it persisted in following as closely as it could.
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16 comments:

  1. eileeninmdOctober 26, 2009 at 7:46 AM

    Great shots of the Oystercatcher and the Gulls. The Oystercatcher is an interesting bird, at least I think so.

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  2. NeilOctober 26, 2009 at 8:18 AM

    Nice one Mick that Sooty stands out.

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  3. mickOctober 26, 2009 at 10:26 AM

    Thanks Neil and Eileen.

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  4. Tyto TonyOctober 26, 2009 at 3:46 PM

    Nice to catch a Sooty when probably expecting only Pieds. Looks from eye colours as if all three Pieds are immatures, unlike the Sooty.

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  5. mickOctober 26, 2009 at 4:35 PM

    Hi Tony, I think you're right about the Pieds being immature. I thought at first that I just hadn't caught the light in their eyes - but your explanation makes more sense. Thanks!

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  6. RedzlanOctober 26, 2009 at 6:31 PM

    Beautiful Sooty!
    I have yet to see the shore birds.

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  7. mickOctober 26, 2009 at 7:16 PM

    Thanks Tabib. Shorebirds are fascinating!

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  8. diane bOctober 26, 2009 at 7:45 PM

    I have just been browsing through your blog. You have great shots, especially of birds. They look terrific when made bigger. You should make them bigger on your blog they are so nice.
    Condolences for the loss of your mother.She did well to live into her nineties.

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  9. Denis WilsonOctober 27, 2009 at 12:24 AM

    Hi Mick
    .
    Nice "grouping" of the Oystercatchers. So much for Sooties liking reefs and Pied liking sand.
    .
    Such "rules" are for breaking, eh?
    birds don't read books.
    (nor do plants)
    .
    Cheers
    Denis

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  10. mickOctober 27, 2009 at 5:06 AM

    Thanks for your comments, Diane, and your kind wishes re my Mum. I keep the photos on the blog small because I am very much aware of how slow many net connections are. Even broadband - such as it is here in Australia! - is often so very slow!

    Hi Denis, I agree that birds break all the 'rules' in the books! Inskip seems to be one of the places where so much is different from the rest of this area. I hope to document some of these differences this year - which was one reason why I wanted a count the other day.

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  11. Bob KaufmanOctober 27, 2009 at 5:17 AM

    Great shots, Mick! First time I've sen a picture of a Sooty..and a young Silver Gull for that matter.

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  12. mickOctober 27, 2009 at 5:41 AM

    Hi Bob and Cynthia. The Sooties are not as common as the Pieds - but definitely uncommon in that habitat.

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  13. AnonymousOctober 27, 2009 at 12:07 PM

    Nice catch on the sooty! The gull shots are fun as well - the last one is so typically the young of any species, "Please ????"

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  14. mickOctober 27, 2009 at 12:11 PM

    Thanks Wren. I've got a family of Magpie-Larks around my yard right now and the juveniles are soooooo loud! Even worse than the gulls.

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  15. LarryOctober 27, 2009 at 3:17 PM

    Great catch of the Sooty Mick. It's fun watching the youngins isn't it? Hey, someone's got to feed them eh?

    That last shot of the juve following the adult is great!

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  16. mickOctober 27, 2009 at 4:21 PM

    Thanks Larry.

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