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Pied oystercatcher / Torea


Pied oystercatcher / Torea
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-24
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 30d, Canon 70-300mm DO IS USM
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/1250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-10-05 1:09
Viewed: 856
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Pied Oystercatcher

Maori: Torea

Oystercatchers are stocky birds with bright eye-rings and long colourful bills. Their diet is much more varied than their name implies.

There are three species in New Zealand:
Pied oystercatcher
Variable oystercatcher
Chatham Island oystercatcher
Plus the New Zealand subspecies South Island pied oystercatcher

I think this is the Pied oystercatcher
The pied oystercatcher or torea in Maori, is the most common oystercatcher in New Zealand, numbering around 112,000 birds in 1994. The New Zealand subspecies (Haematopus ostralegus finschi) is the South Island pied oystercatcher or SIPO. It has a black head and upper surfaces, and a white belly. A white Y pattern between the chest and the folded wing distinguishes it from the pied phase of the variable oystercatcher. The pied oystercatcher has a red bill, orange eye-ring and short pink legs, measures 46 centimetres and weighs 550 grams.

Breeding
In early spring, pied oystercatchers migrate from beaches and estuaries to inland rivers or farmland, mainly in the South Island, where they breed from August. Nests are a shallow scrape on open riverbeds or farmland. They lay one to three brown, blotched eggs, the parents sharing incubation. Chicks can fly at six weeks.

From December, after raising their young for the year, they return to winter feeding grounds in the North or South Island, where large flocks gather on sand spits and estuaries, or near a river mouth. Their chief ports of call include Farewell Spit, the Firth of Thames, and Kaipara and Manukau harbours.

On the coast, they probe into mud or wet sand, or picking from the surface, they feed on molluscs, estuarine worms and small fish. Inland, they feed on worms and grubs.

Pied oystercatchers start breeding from the age of four or five, and they live up to 27 years.

http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/BirdsOfSeaAndShore/WadingBirds/2/en
eqshannon, Argus, dB_grafix, siggi, bobcat08, crs, PaulH, uleko has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 190 N: 11348] (34987)
  • [2008-10-05 1:16]

Hello Janice,
An unusual POV for an Oystercatcher, but effective in showing all the features from the front and you have done this to a fine technical standard with excellent lighting.
TFS this beauty,
Have a good week,
Ivan

This is a fantastic point of view Janice.
Nice bit of reflection and very good eye contact.
Best Wishes.
Doug

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4723] (16252)
  • [2008-10-05 1:18]

Hello Janice
A wonderful shot of this Pied oystercatcher.Very nice close detail and good sharp focus.Good Eye contact.Nicely positioned in the frame.TFS
Regards Siggi

Hi Janice,

We have these beautiful birds in Holland. They are also breeding on the flat roofs (-: in city's. Fine close up with a very good eyecontact. Natural colours. Thats the enviroment where they usually find food.

Thaaanks for sharing. Cheers and TFS BOB

Hi Janice,
Very good close-up shot of Pied Oystercatcher in its natural habitat. Good pose and composition, nice eye contact, sharp details and natural colours.
TFS
Pekka

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616] (3404)
  • [2008-10-05 2:54]

Nice capture,spot on exposure.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2388 W: 94 N: 5521] (17576)
  • [2008-10-05 5:35]

Hello Janice,
Beautiful photo of this Oystercatcher. Excellent POV and composition. The light and colours are beautiful. Good sharp details.
Regards,
Peter

A very nice capture for a lady whose sring has arrived and awaits summer...You are already getting set for many more of these to post whilst we sit under 5 feet of white. thanks much for sharing this image AND your kind commiseration of my Leica!
Bob

  • Great 
  • crs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 523 W: 0 N: 920] (3543)
  • [2008-10-05 8:52]

Hello Janice,

You have made a good photo with the bird in its natural environment. The fine light you have captured shows well the red beak and eye of the bird. There are fine and natural looking reflection of the lighton water and mud beneath the bird.

Thank you for sharing,
Cristian

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 23 N: 3656] (13083)
  • [2008-10-06 6:31]

Hi Janice, a nice POV from the front here, and that orange bill is very eye catching! Well composed too, great note too.
tfs
Paul

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2992 W: 162 N: 950] (2789)
  • [2008-10-08 6:57]

Hello Janice,
I love these birds that we get here too! Great frontal capture of this one in a nice pose showing its beautiful colours.
Good sharpness and well composed.
TFS and cheers, Ulla

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