Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Pied Oystercatchers

This post is for World Bird Wednesday.

Pied Oystercatchers (Haematopus longirostris) are a common sight around the bay. Sometimes I even see flocks of a dozen or so roosting together. However, pairs of Pied Oystercatchers stay in the same territory year after year and these ones are decreasing. The pair I photographed for this post have a permanent territory around the Mullens shorebird roost.

27 comments:

  1. such great looking birds! wearing that orange beak, loud and proud! :)

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  2. They're beautiful!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  3. The oystercatchers are one of my favorites! Great shots!

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  4. wow the second one was a great moment! Bet you couldn't wait to get home and edit and see how it came out.

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  5. Wonderful shots!
    What vibrant red eyes they have.

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  6. Lovely birds, and beautifully photographed, Mick.
    Denis

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  7. These are great shots, I love the wings outstretched.

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  8. oooohhhh they are just too cute with their carrot nose and matching eyes!!

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  9. I remember how surprised I was the first time I saw an oyster catcher. They're easy to spot with those bright bills!

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  10. Fantastic, Mick! Love that second shot!

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  11. I totally adore these guys!
    Wonderful photos of the pair.

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  12. Great shots Mick! What a lovely bird.
    I am sure I captured a couple of those out at Redcliffe last year as the sun was setting (mostly silhouettes)... I must go back to the same spot and try to capture them during the day.

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  13. They always look like they know how to have fun!

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  14. wow, what a surprice when I scrolled down and saw the last shot. It is amazing. A rare shot! :)

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  15. Great pictures, they are impressive looking birds up close. The shot of the bird with the wings extended is wonderful.

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  16. Wow, they are really great shots Mick. I have never seen one with it's wings up. Thanks.

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  17. Nice action and detail in these shote, Mick!

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  18. Great images and info, Mick! They must be very competitive to hold on to a permanent territory - what hard life!

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  19. Terrific shots, Mick! Love to see the stretching bird too!

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  20. What an interesting bird, and great shots!

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  21. Hi there - I have just returned from the wild, woolly and less that wonderful world of wireless only internet - so now I'm catching up.

    Oystercatchers are great birds – just come back from some time at the coast, and I saw them every day. That’s rather special for us suburban types!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

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  22. Hi there - that wing up pose is very similar to the one in my picture. I wonder if it means something in 'oystercatcher'.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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