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Sleeping Oystercatchers
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Damien Datry (Prop)
![Silver Note Writer [C: 5 W: 1 N: 11]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/n-n-s.gif) (93) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2007-02-11 |
| Categories: Birds |
| Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS |
| Exposure: f/4, 1/636 seconds |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2007-07-03 5:20 |
| Viewed: 535 |
| Points: 4 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) resting on the bank of Lagan River, Belfast.
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.
They 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.
As you can see they seem to sleep on one leg, probably to avoid heat losses.
Thanks for looking,
Damien. |
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