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Oystercatcher
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
An Eurasian Oystercatcher at RSPB Elmsley Marshes nature reserve.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
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.
Subspecies
There are three races the nominate race found in Europe and the coasts of eastern Europe. The race longipes is found in central Asia and Russia while race osculans is found from Kamchatka to northern China.
Bill length shows clinal variation with an increase from west to east. The race longipes has very brownish upperparts and the nasal groove extends more than half-way along the bill. In race ostralegus the nasal groove stops short of the half-way mark. Race osculans lacks white on the shafts of the outer 2-3 primaries and has no white on the outer webs of the outer five primaries. |
Argus, MMM, goldyrs, jaycee, nglen, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
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Hello Pekka,
Very difficult bird to capture in my opinion through these blacks and whites. Add to this you photographed an Oystercatcher in flight...
TFS
Annick
- Argus
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2611 W: 133 N: 7494]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(23373) - [2008-06-27 7:23]
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Hello Pekka,
A fine in-flight of an Oystercatcher from a great POV with excellent sharpness and lighting against a blue sky. In this individual the white belly has the same appearance as the surface of a golf ball!
TFS this beauty,
Ivan
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- joey
(19849)
- [2008-06-27 7:50]
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Very good photo, Pekka!
Excelllent sharpness and clarity.
Really well exposed against the sky.
Superb DOF.
Well done!
Joe
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- MMM
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 755 W: 0 N: 1515]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(6928) - [2008-06-27 7:52]
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Hi Pekka
Nice in flight capture.Sharp image and excellent plumage detail.Colors are beautiful and I also liek the catch light in the eye.
TFS Michel
WOW!What a shot, Pekka...Simply superb work!
Goldy
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- jaycee
(14987)
- [2008-06-27 9:50]
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Hi Pekka,
This is outstanding! The red, black and white against the blue sky are stunning. You froze this Oystercatcher in flight in a lovely position. Razor sharp details of the face, eye, wings and body. A great shot.
Jane
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- PeterZ
(8277)
- [2008-06-27 11:30]
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Hello Pekka,
Great photo of this Oystercatcher in flight. They are in my neighbourhood, but I don't succeeded to photograph them in flight. This one is very good in excellent sharp details. The colours are very beautiful and clear. Good composition.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Peter
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- nglen
(20998)
- [2008-06-27 11:44]
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Hi Pekka. A very good inflight shot of this Oystercatcher . It stands out so well against the deep blue sky. Your picture shows the wing down which lets us see all the markings so well. Good detail and bright colours. well done TFS.
Nick..
Have a nice weekend,
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- jesst
(2198)
- [2008-06-27 12:54]
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Very good capture. Fine bird in flight, tfs
great capture! TFS Ori
Ciao Pekka, splendid flying bird with excellent sharpness and fine details, great colors, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio
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- gannu
(10776)
- [2008-06-28 3:17]
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Hello Pekka, This is amazing shot. I always wanted to take shot on the move. Fantastic shot. Ganesh
hello Pekka
excellent in-flight shot of this beautiful bird,
wih very fine POV and framing, i love his pose
on the airs and the way he is framed on the image,
great sharpness and details of the bird and his plumage, TFS
Asbed
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- arfer
![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-n.gif)
(0) - [2008-07-03 9:23]
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Hello Pekka
Good exposure,the dark plumage shows well.
The orange beak is striking and well saturated.
Very good eye contact,the in flight capture is well done.
The pov and dof are excellent.
TFS
Rob
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 305 W: 21 N: 1197]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}