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Oystercatcher School
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
An adult Oystercather is teaching a youngster how to become an Oystercatcher. These two were going around a small island for a long time the adult clearly showing the young how and where. I am posting two other pictures as WORKSHOP to show how the teaching progressed.
These pictures were shot at RSPB Freiston Shore nature reserve.
THE UNFAIR ACTIONS AGAINST SOME OF OUR BEST MEMBERS BY THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE AFFECTED THIS SITE SO BADLY THAT I AM RECONSIDERING MY STATUS HERE. THIS MAY BE MY LAST POST HERE UNLESS THINGS RETURN TO NORMAL. THERE ARE LOTS OF SITES WITH MORE FREEDOM, UNFORTUNATELY THE COMMUNITY IS NOWHERE AS GOOD AS IT IS HERE.
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, eqshannon, MMM, siggi, uleko, bahadir, iris, PeterZ, Royaldevon, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
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- uleko
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2465 W: 168 N: 7448]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(23526) - [2008-07-22 3:23]
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Hej Pekka,
I like your short series of action captures showing the Oystercatcher and its young. Very nice! My favourite is the last one though with the two walking along the shoreline! Fine details and colours and nice reflections in the water too. Well done!
TFS and cheers, Ulla
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- siggi
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 284 W: 3 N: 767]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(2748) - [2008-07-22 5:34]
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Hi Pekka,
Nice showing of these two variable oystercatchers. Lovely pov and composition. Also informative note. TFS,
Siggi
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- MMM
(6922)
- [2008-07-22 6:18]
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Hello Pekka
Nice presentation.Good POV and sharp image.Well composed image .Good text to.
TFS Michel
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- Argus
(23317)
- [2008-07-22 6:43]
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Hello Pekka,
A great capture with a fine title of an Oystercatcher and its chick. The sharpness, composition with their reflections in the water and POV are all excellent.
TFS this beauty,
Ivan
You could have gone either way with this and not lost anything. for instance had you cropped out the second bird it would have still been fine but by leaving it works well too. In this way we have several points of attraction and a whole storyline to boot! Tres good kind sir!
Bob
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- lousat
(9959)
- [2008-07-22 9:50]
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Hi Pekka,a very artistic way to show us this birds,the moment to take and the reflections in the water are fantastic,my best compliments and thanks for share,Luciano
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- PeterZ
(8251)
- [2008-07-22 12:16]
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Hello Pekka,
Nice action photo in a great POV. Good sharpness and natural colours. Excellent composition.
Regards,
Peter
hello Pekka
what a lovely shot, excellent timing too shoot
this superb scene in image, fine POV and DOF,
i love that you did'nt zoom at full to leave in the image
the bird's reflexion on the water, excellent sharpness & details,
TFS
Asbed
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- EOSF1
(21322)
- [2008-07-22 21:41]
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Hello Pekka! Great shot of these Oystercatchers, very nicely composed and shot with a very good technique as always, well done, thnaks!
Mario
Interesante ángulo desde la parte interior (muy buena idea)y excelente documento del hábitat y costumbres de esta ave. Naturalidad en los colores. Un bello documento.
Saludos Pekka: Josep Ignasi
Hello Pekka,
This is very well composed and timed!
You have waited until just the right moment and positioned yourself in just the right place!
I like the suggested movement in the neck of the bird and the lovely refections.
Kind regards,
Bev :-)
Hi Pekka, great capture with fascinating reflections, very well done, ciao Silvio
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 411 W: 47 N: 962]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(3278)