Face and head right underwater to start with.
Splash one side first - thoroughly - and then give that side a good comb with the foot.
Now the other side - and use the other foot for that side.
Preen down the front
Preen the back
A good flap with the wings as it stepped out of the water
A final shake of the tail
The mate was standing only a few feet away - "Very nice dear! You look quite smart!"
For more bird photos visit the Bird Photography Weekly.
25 comments:
I'm probably anthropomorphising, but it looks to me as though birds really enjoy their baths.
Yes - well I think I was anthropomorphising as well the way I posted - but I'd agree with you - the splashing around was for fun I'm sure!
LOL - great sequence! And he/she really does look quite smart toward the end.
Great sequence, Mick.
You are simply reporting the events as they panned out before you - except perhaps the last comment, but we are all human. And humans are part of nature, too. We share feelings and emotions with other animals.
Cheers
Denis
Hi Mosura, it was fun to watch - and I've never been this close to a Pied Oystercatcher before.
Hi Denis, Yes, well, I couldn't resist that last comment. The second bird just stood there and watched the whole procedure.
What a great series of photos, Mick! And a very nicely told story! Enjoyed reading it a lot.
-N
Thanks Nickolay.
I am always surprised just how thoroughly birds bathe. That was a brilliant series of shots. It would have made a great video shoot.
Hi John, thanks for your comments - but please don't wish for a video camera as well! I have enough trouble managing one camera at a time while sitting in the kayak! Maybe there should be a second person out with me to manage one as well :-)
A great series of bath time photos. What a great sighting.
G'day Mick,
Nice series. It was a very accommodating bird. Always good to watch the birds and animals go about their business as though we weren't present.
Regards,
Gouldiae.
Hi Eileen and thanks for your comments.
Hi Gouldiae, I am most pleased with photos where the birds are ignoring me - even where photos show them with their eyes closed - which are not great photos but certainly show I am not disturbing them!
Lovely series. Seems often easier to get close to birds when they're intent on washing and/or preening.
Hi Tony, that's a very interesting observation - hopefully I can put it to the test soon.
Nice - lucky you to get so close to watch and take photos. I love the tail shake at the end!
Thanks Wren, and the tail shake is just what my dog does when I give her a bath!
Great series of shots, Mick! I have yet to see an Oystercatcher take a bath here in my neck of the woods.
...haha! Fantastic series of the Oystercatcher. I enjoyed it!
I loved this series Mick. Great shots of the Pied Oystercatcher. I really like the 5th shot that shows the beak really well, with the reflection.
I am seriously thinking about a kayak for photographing water fowl and other lake and river dwelling species. I have heard so many reports of getting really close to birds while traveling via kayak.
Besides, there is a Belted Kingfisher nest site I would really like to photograph next breeding season.
Snicker - this series is amazing :D
I've never seen a bird show off his bathing ritual.
I'm glad you could capture these shots, I would not have believed you otherwise ;)
What great photos and I love how you described them. I had never heard of this bird, a lovely one too~
Thanks for commenting Kelly, Bob and Cynthia, Larry, Nicole, and Mary.
great serie of images on teh bathtaking bird.
We are supposed to have it here, but I have yet to spot it.
Lovely 'bathtime' post and observation Mick.
Thanks Naturefootsteps and Frank.
Post a Comment