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Sooty Oystercatcher


Sooty Oystercatcher
Photo Information
Copyright: Chris Chafer (sandpiper2) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1668 W: 111 N: 3532] (11481)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-05-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: Fujifilm Finepix S5000, Fujinon 10X zoom
Exposure: f/7.0, 1/680 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of Australia [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-05-26 8:08
Viewed: 1065
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Sooty Oystercatcher (Haemotopus fuliginosus) is one of my favourite birds. They inhabit the rocky coastline of most of the Australian continent and breed on nearby offshore islands. Although they predominantly feed on molluscs, they are also opportunists and will take sea urchins, crabs, sea squirts (ascidians), marine worms and seaweed fly larvae. After rough seas, large amounts of kelp (sea weed) are washed ashore. Once exposed to the sun, the kelp begins to rot and seaweed flies lay their eggs in the kelp. When the larvae hatch they feed on the rotting vegetable matter. The oystercatchers then systematically forage through the rotting kelp and consume large numbers of the larvae. This is what they are doing in this shot. The male (left) and female (right) have slightly different bill structures and this allows them to forage on slightly different food items, though there is a lot of overlap.
This pair was taken at Port Kembla beach on a beautiful sunny autumn afternoon.
dew77, Fisher, AndyB, ellis49, Comandante, marhowie, Callie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Callie: the hidesandpiper2 1 06-01 07:30
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Critiques [Translate]

Excelent capture and well done on the composition.

Mike

you achieved to get a sharp image of both of the birds by a successful DOF.. Thansk for sharing

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1592 W: 32 N: 1361] (3978)
  • [2005-05-26 11:34]

A nice capture Chris,
Excellent composition,very well exposed with nice detail.
I've never seen these before.
Good work,very well done.

Very nice picture, Chris.
Never seen black Oystercatcher before, they are beautiful.
Well composed, nice colours ang good details.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3073 W: 232 N: 5866] (19730)
  • [2005-05-27 1:07]

Great looking birds, Chris, with their orange beaks, pink legs, and black feathers. The contrast is very stunning. Good composition. TFS. : )

Hi Cris!
Wonderful photo.Contrast colors,details and composition are perfect.Thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2005-05-27 3:38]

Hello Chris!
Wonderful birds.Clear eyes,details and composition are perfect.TFS...

Chris, This duo is very striking in appearance with their bright orange eyes & bills on black..Good details and exposure. Great shot!

Hi Chris
Ours are the second most threathend shorebird in SA, we call them Black Oytercatchers, and their feet and bill are bright red. very nice picture of them here where they live.
As for hides, I jave no picture of one - can you believe it? Next time I go to Marievale, I will try and get a picture of the inside. Basically, it is a timber shed, with hardboad louvres, or none, and you have this slot where you can look through on to the water.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2005-06-03 16:51]

Chris, I know that it's always difficul to get these black feathers a right exposure. Anyway, I think you did great here.

The contrast is nice, as well as composition.

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