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A noisy newcomer


A noisy newcomer
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1215 W: 68 N: 2524] (8319)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, Sigma 135-400mm f/4.5-5.6 APO, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-06-22 3:11
Viewed: 459
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A noisy newcomer in my garden.
Since a couple of days mum, dad and three chicks Oystercatcher arrived in my garden. I’ve never seen them here before. They bore their heavy bills in the ground to find some earthworms. And it seems that they like it.

The Eurasian Oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus, also known as the Common Pied Oystercatcher, or (in Europe) just Oystercatcher, is a wader in the oystercatcher bird family Haematopodidae. It is the most widespread of the oystercatchers, with three races breeding in western Europe, central Eurasia, Kamchatka, China, and Western coast of Korea. No other oystercatcher occurs within this area.
This is a migratory species over most of its range. The European population breeds mainly in northern Europe, but in winter the birds can be found in north Africa and southernmost Europe. Although the species is present all year in Ireland, Great Britain and the adjacent European coasts, there is still migratory movement: for example the large flocks that are found the estuaries of south-west England in winter mainly breed in northern England or Scotland. Similar movements are shown by the Asian populations. The birds are highly gregarious outside the breeding season.

These are large obvious and noisy plover-like birds, with black and white plumage, red legs and strong broad red bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs such as mussels or for finding earthworms. Despite its name, oysters do not form a large part of its diet, but few if any other wading birds are capable of opening oysters at all.

The bill shape varies; oystercatchers with broad bill tips open molluscs by prising them apart or hammering through the shell, whereas pointed-bill birds dig up worms. Much of this is due to the wear resulting from feeding on the prey. Thus when birds move inland to breed and thus shift from feeding on molluscs to worms their bill shape changes from flat to pointed.
This oystercatcher is unmistakable in flight, with white patches in the wings and tail, otherwise black upperparts, and white underparts. Young birds are browner, have a white neck collar, and a duller bill. The call is a distinctive loud piping.
The nest is a bare scrape on pebbles, on the coast or on inland gravelly islands. 2-4 eggs are laid. Both eggs and chicks are highly cryptic.
Because of its large numbers and readily identified behaviour, the Oystercatcher is an important indicator species for the health of the ecosystems where it congregates. Extensive long-term studies have been carried out on its foraging behaviour, in northern Germany, in the Netherlands and particularly on the River Exe estuary in south-west England, and these form an important part of the foundation of the modern discipline of behavioural ecology. The Oystercatcher is the national bird of the Faroe Islands.
xTauruSx, zulfu, ramthakur, maurydv, uleko, Argus, jaycee, nglen, NinaM, boreocypriensis, cicindela, Juyona, MMM, SelenE, Jamesp, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Argus: A noisy newcomerPeterZ 1 06-22 08:08
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Peter,

A Perfectly captured Oystercatcher. TFS. Regards, Deniz

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 528 W: 0 N: 95] (585)
  • [2008-06-22 3:24]

Hi Peter, Great composition with excellent details. Many tahnks for sharing. Greetings,
Mehmet

Peter, we have seen quite a few Oystercatchers on TN recently, and yours is the best, no doubt.
The image is so sharp and colourful it actually conveys the personality of this bird strongly.
Very well done and TFS.
Ram

Splendido ritratto di beccaccia di mare, eccellenti POV e composizione con il bellissimo effetto di schiacciamento dei piani creato dalla lunga focale, ottima nitidezza, magnifici i colori e BG. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hello Peter,

Very nice capture of this oystercatcher. Very good composition. Excellent POV, DOF and sharpness. Very good light and excellent colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Olá Peter, exelente foto muito bem focada e nitides ótima belo gosto parabéns.
Nilson

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2470 W: 168 N: 7478] (23630)
  • [2008-06-22 7:29]

Hello Peter,
What a lovely visitor to your garden!! We get Oystercatchers flying over house now and then. They're beautiful birds and you've captured this one very nicely against a beautiful background with reflections in the water. I like the way he's keeping an eye on you!
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2615 W: 133 N: 7512] (23431)
  • [2008-06-22 7:50]
  • [+]

Great to have an Oystercatcher in your garden, Peter!
You made a fine capture of it, the bill dirty from probing the grass for worms. Great low POV and excellent pose and sharpness.
TFS this beauty,
Ivan

Sorry to see what happened to Holland!:((
Now you know why Sweden got beaten.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1791 W: 8 N: 4653] (15039)
  • [2008-06-22 8:56]

Hi Peter,

You have such wonderful birds visiting your garden - ones that I have never seen. I love the dirty beak showing that he has been digging. Wonderful pose, striking colors, and sharp details. Looks marvelous on the green grass.

Jane

Unusual capture in your back garden Peter,are you farming oysters in your pond
Nice Shot with good sharpness and detail
tfs jon

Hola Peter, veo un excelente enfoque que el agua parece querer romper sin conseguirlo jeje.Realismo y nitidez en los colores, favoreciendo a todo ello el desenfoque del fondo y primer plano.
Un bello trabajo.
Saludos: J. Ignasi Tejedor.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1995 W: 5 N: 5588] (21102)
  • [2008-06-22 11:27]

Hi Peter. This one looks as if he will do your gardening for you. It looks a large bird with its long legs. You have captured a good close up showing good detail and natural colours. Intersting notes too.
TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 567 W: 0 N: 1397] (4619)
  • [2008-06-22 11:29]

Hello Peter, quite a sight to find those beautiful birds in your garden. The blurred water in the background gives such a nice effect to your picture, movement and softness at once. The bird's pose is great and we see it very well, with great clarity and sharpness. Thank you!

Francine

Hi Peter,

Anmazing detailed shot of this beautiful and dirty:) Oystercatcher. The BG consisting of water is wonderful! Superb composition with excellent clarity my friend!
Many thanks sharing this one and my best regards,

Bayram

Hi Peter,

Very good capture of this Oystercatcher. Good composition and POV, sharp details and bright natural colours.

TFS

Pekka

Hello Peter!
This picture reminds me my trip to Ireland when I had possibility to see this species in huge numer of individuals almost everywhere! (on coast, of course :>). Very nice composition, details, DOF and colours :>
TFS and best regards from Lodz!
Friendly yours,
Radomir

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1033 W: 26 N: 3000] (10824)
  • [2008-06-23 3:35]

Hi Peter,
very nice capture of this new arrival, lovely eye contact and details, well done.
Paul

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 929 W: 4 N: 2322] (10812)
  • [2008-06-23 3:41]

Hello Peter,Why the bird so angry? Did you say anything? You have done a good display here with good note. Ganesh

Hi Peter, splendid bird with great sharpness and fine details, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • efsus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 189 W: 15 N: 172] (1094)
  • [2008-06-23 6:04]

Merhaba Peter!
Bahçenizi çok merak ettim doğrusu. Ziyaretçisi bu kadar güzel olan bahçe kimbilir nasıldır. Çok güzel bir kare olmuş. Emeğinize sağlık. Yeni ziyaretçi karelerinde görüşmek umuduyla. Hoşçakal.
Hüseyin

Hello Peter
Oystercatcher's are cool and beautiful bird. I have seen and photograph many of them :)
Well done and TFS
Ralf

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 755 W: 0 N: 1515] (6928)
  • [2008-06-23 11:20]

Hi Peter.Nice image of a species I had never seen before.good POV and sharp image.Excellent text.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2352 W: 61 N: 3814] (12240)
  • [2008-06-23 13:52]

Hi Peter,
Nice photo of your guest :o) I liked your low POV, details and the composition. TFS
All the best,
Selen

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1697 W: 242 N: 5609] (19923)
  • [2008-06-23 14:53]

Wow lucky you! Many of us are pleased to have a Crow in our garden let alone an Oystercatcher! :-)
Very good detailed capture.
Really natural colours and great light.
Excellent DOF.

Well done, Peter!

Joe

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
  • [2008-06-23 14:55]

Hi Peter

Great shot of this Oystercatcher. Nice pose with good detail, eyecontact and colour.

James

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2043 W: 6 N: 2025] (13279)
  • [2008-06-23 15:29]

Hola Peter,
perfecto pov,
buenos colores y sensacional foco...
saludos amigo.
pt

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1051 W: 1 N: 4170] (14008)
  • [2008-06-23 21:11]

Sorry for giving you this rain check on a comment, but we were caring for our two grandsons and I'm bushed, I'll return soon with a proper note, but for now I have smileys burning a hole in my pocket.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-06-23 21:33]

Hello Peter

A lovely view of this oystercatcher,I guess they heard you are a great bird photographer so they showed up for some family portraits.
Lovely colours and plumage detail.
Well focused as usual.
Great job.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-06-27 10:28]

Hi Peter,
Wonderful shot of this Oystercatcher and it seems it was busy pekking for earthworms with its huge bill. Nice pose captured with very impressive sharpness and details on its plumage. I like the natural surrounding and the FG green grass which adds fine colour to the image. Excellent DOF, POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Great shot & note Peter, it's always exciting to have a new arrival..even a noisy one :)
Well composed with nice detail, colors, and exposure.
The muddy beak is a dead giveaway, looks like they'll stay as long as the worms hold out ;-}
Thank you & have a good week,
Howard

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