The American Oystercatcher has easily become one of my favorite shorebirds. I think it's the brilliant red bill and eyes that set them apart for me. I found a pair at Fort De Soto a couple weeks ago. They didn't mind me one bit. They foraged, I clicked, and it was a good morning. The lighting was pretty much ideal for these photos. I used very little exposure compensation, perhaps +1/3 stop. I knelt down to thee ground to take these, which is the reason why the water in the background is blurry.
Great shots! I have yet to see this species though they sure look a lot like the Eurasian Oystercatchers I used to see when I lived in the Netherlands. I'm wondering if you reported the banded bird? I'm always looking for banded birds but I haven't been lucky enough to find one yet. I think I need to get to the beach more often, there are a lot of shorebird and gull banding schemes. :)
I didn't know the green rings were the latest in Oystercatcher fashion. It's so hard to stay hip with these transient trends...
ReplyDeleteYes, it is the hip new trend in oystercatcher fashion. I did notice some jealousy in the one bird that didn't have the rings. :-)
DeleteSuperb photos Scott! Such eye catching birds! I have yet to see one...
ReplyDeleteGreat shots! I have yet to see this species though they sure look a lot like the Eurasian Oystercatchers I used to see when I lived in the Netherlands. I'm wondering if you reported the banded bird? I'm always looking for banded birds but I haven't been lucky enough to find one yet. I think I need to get to the beach more often, there are a lot of shorebird and gull banding schemes. :)
ReplyDelete