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Monday 17 February 2014

Oystercatcher [Haematopus ostralegus]

The oystercatcher is a large, stocky, black and white wading bird. It has a long, orange-red bill and reddish-pink legs. In flight, it shows a wide white wing-stripe, a black tail, and a white rump that extends as a 'V' between the wings. Because it eats cockles, the population is vulnerable if cockle beds are overexploited. Breeds on almost all UK coasts; over the last 50 years, more birds have started breeding inland. Most UK birds spend the winter on the coast; where they are joined on the east coast by birds from Norway.[RSPB]







49 comments:

  1. Love the oystercatchers, they are cool birds. I will have to google cockles? Great shots, Bob!

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  2. Lovely birds to see and hear with their loud piping call. Super shots Bob...[;o)

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    1. You can hear it is coming, the loud whining sounds, lovely.

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  3. The Oystercatchers must have eaten far more oysters than us in their lifetime.

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  4. Wonderful photos! And thank you for the music! :-)

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    1. Thanks Yael, and the music, he was the king.

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  5. A great capture, because they are so black!

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    1. Red Beak, Red Eyes, white in their belly, but, everything else is black, lol.

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  6. Hello Bob,
    Lovely series of oystercatchers .
    Well photographed.

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  7. Greasy birds to watch and photograph. You have done well to capture them nicely.

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  8. Wow!
    I like the color of their beaks.

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  9. really cute shots of this striking bird. :)

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  10. I would love to see this bird sometime in my lifetime.

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    1. You can see it in your lifetime, it has an American Oystercatcher, so you can go out and film it's cousins Keith.

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  11. What a pretty bird!

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  12. Terrific photographs! I was thrilled to see my first American Oystercatcher this past fall. Very cool looking birds!

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    1. Thanks and well done on the American Oystercatcher Julie.

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  13. Lovely captures of a very striking bird. I love his bright orange bill, red eye, and black and white suit!!

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  14. Prachtig Bob,wat zijn ze mooi.

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  15. What a striking creature this is, Bob!

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  16. Great captures Bob.. Nice bird!!!.. Congrats..

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  17. Hola Bob un ave muy bella que como tu dices esta en peligro,aqui en España es común pero no numerosa que tambien se agregan individuos del norte de Europa en invierno,magnificas tomas.Un abrazo

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  18. Fantastic series, Bob. I love that bird. It's so beautifully coloured. Greetings, Joke

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  19. An interesting and beautiful bird. Gorgeous photos.

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  20. And people try and tell you that 'red eye' in photos is a flaw. They know nothing.
    Thanks Bob. I loved this bird.

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  21. Lieber Bob,
    der Austernfischer hat sich toll für dich in Pose gestellt.
    Herrliche Aufnahmen.
    Liebe Grüße
    Irmi

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  22. He is a pretty amazing looking bird Bob !

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  23. Fantastic series, Bob! Well photographed!
    Great shots!
    Dimi...

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  24. To śliczne ptaki i nawet oczu mają pod kolor dzioba. Pozdrawiam.
    This beautiful birds and even the eyes are the color of the beak. Yours.

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  25. Bonitas imagenes le has hecho a este ostero, Bob, curioso el color del pico.

    Saludos.

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  26. Nice bird. Thanks for all the interesting information.

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  27. I love the colors these birds have.

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  28. Seems like it is seeing us in anger. It's beak is so sharp with beautiful red color...

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  29. Oystercatcher is really so beautiful bird. And you took some wonderful pictures.
    Trees Planet

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  30. QUE DE BELLES PHOTOS BOB ENCORE CHEZ TOI
    MERCI C4EST UN Plaisir de venir regarder tes canards et tes oiseaux bise

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  31. Che bella la natura, una grande varietà nelle sue creature e non ci stanca mai! Le tue foto sono stupende!
    Complimenti! ciao Cri : )

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  32. I naively believed these waders would shuck oysters!

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  33. Como es habitual en ti, otra bella e interesante serie. Un abrazo,

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