My post for World Bird Wednesday and Watery Wednesday and Nature Notes is of the American Oystercatcher. This bird nest on sandy beaches and barrier islands. It forages for clams, mussels and crabs in salt marshes, rocky coast and intertidal areas. They are brown in color above and have a white bottom and have a black hood. They have a stout red-orange bill which reminds me of a carrot.
I got to see this bird while visiting Chincoteague NWR, below are four of them in flight.
This one below is banded with a black band and numbered 4P
I think these two were a couple.
If you like birds and would like to see more please visit Springman's site at World Bird Wednesday and for more watery shots visit 2sweetnsaxy's Watery Wednesday and Michelle's Nature Notes
Thanks to Springman , Michelle and 2sweetnsaxy for hosting and thank you for stopping by to see my birds. Have a great week!
I got to see this bird while visiting Chincoteague NWR, below are four of them in flight.
This one below is banded with a black band and numbered 4P
I think these two were a couple.
If you like birds and would like to see more please visit Springman's site at World Bird Wednesday and for more watery shots visit 2sweetnsaxy's Watery Wednesday and Michelle's Nature Notes
Thanks to Springman , Michelle and 2sweetnsaxy for hosting and thank you for stopping by to see my birds. Have a great week!
Those birds are wacky looking but well suited for what they do. I learned something new. I have never heard of the American Oystercatcher.
ReplyDeleteI like the colour co-ordinated eyes and bill!
ReplyDeleteI love your new header - very romantic.
I love this bird! We see them on the Oregon Coast (they're probably here in Florida too, but I haven't seen them). That bill has to be stout for what they do!
ReplyDeletegreat shots! interesting place to band them - making them wear garter belts rather than anklets.
ReplyDeleteHi Eileen, Yes, from your excellent pictures, the bills do look like the birds have carrots sticking out of their faces! Ha! Wonderful! Have an excellent day!
ReplyDeleteI like these guys with their bright orange bills. For me, they are one of the easier shore birds to ID. I have trouble with many of the others as they seem quite similar. Perhaps I just need more experience.
ReplyDeleteInteresting bird.I like that bright bill.
ReplyDeleteI am curious where on the Oregon coast someone saw these guys... I thought we only had Black Oystercatchers on our coast. They're pretty but yours are stunning!
ReplyDeleteGreat post-I learned about a new bird today! :)
ReplyDeleteIf they liked crawdads/crayfish (depending on where you live) they could even make a go of it in the irrigation ditches in the Southwest!
very nice to see them up close.
ReplyDeleteGreat close ups Eileen. Boom & gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteYou just cannot go wrong with oyster catchers.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting waterbird!
ReplyDeleteSo beautyful photos of a lovely bird!
ReplyDeleteVery, very similar to our species. I like the garters around the knees
ReplyDeleteBTW Eileen the Lapwing is common in the UK although there has been concern about there numbers and breeding habitat loss for some years.
Very cool! Seeing the bands on them in really interesting. I wonder why its both legs....
ReplyDeleteSomeone has more interest in her than us.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of the American Oystercatchers and interesting to compare them with the ones we have out here in Australia.
ReplyDeleteLove your bird and watery shots, Eileen...
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by :)
http://www.1sthappyfamily.com/2011/04/pond-at-restaurant.html
Hi Eileen, I also think that their beaks look like carrots, even the colors!
ReplyDeleteFirst time to see these oystercatcher! I thought only cows have tags, so do the birds.
Almost the same as our Oystercatchers here Eileen. Lovely birds.
ReplyDeleteExcellent captures, Eileen. Love those orange beaks.
ReplyDeleteA great post and beautiful images. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThe colors are amazing. Wonderful watery shot.
ReplyDeleteI saw this bird for the very first time while visiting Florida. Needless to say I was very captivated and took several pictures!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Wednesday!
Debbie's Travels
Astounding!! What great action photos.
ReplyDeleteHere's my Watery Link for the day:
Skipping Rocks Sculpture and Fountain
Have a super duper day!!!
Wonderful photos of a beautiful bird!
ReplyDeleteThe beak does look like a carrot! This is a striking looking shore-bird.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful images of your lovely birds.
ReplyDeleteOystercatchers are always lovely to see.
Excellent post and photos Eileen!
ReplyDeleteAmazing shots! And interesting about the he American Oystercatchers!
ReplyDeleteWish you a great week, Eileen!
Irene
4P looks like one seriously happy oystercatcher, Eileen. Super photos!
ReplyDelete-- K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
Eileen, your banner shot is great. What an atmosphere it has! The oystercatcher must have the orangest eye I have ever seen. A great catch! ;-)WBW
ReplyDeleteThis is a new bird for me, although I'm not sure how I could have missed that beak if I had seen one before. Your pictures are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of the Oystercatcher in his habitat!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and photographs of the great looking birds!
ReplyDeleteI love watching these guys when I can....Great PHOTOS--
ReplyDeleteI love the brightly colored eyes and bill. I wonder how that colored bill is an advantage....Michelle
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of the oystercatchers, I find them to be such fascinating birds. We only have the black oystercatchers here on the west coast, which aren't quite as striking in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteWow, love to see these birds in the wild. They are beautiful creatures
ReplyDeleteOystercatchers look like they are in costume. Lovely shots!
ReplyDeleteSo nice birds.
ReplyDeleteIt's so much fun coming to your blog Eileen. I have never seen the American Oystercatcher. They are beautiful! Love your header photo too.
ReplyDeleteNice blog entry. I think these may be similar to the Killdeer in my area.
ReplyDeleteWhat marvelous eyes they have with that incredible orange color.
ReplyDelete-----------------------------------
My photography is available for purchase - visit Around the Island Photography and bring home something beautiful today!
I love those birds. The orange eye ring is so unique.
ReplyDeleteHi Eileen,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through a friend who had seen the banded oystercatcher black 4P in SW Florida during the winter. I administer the American Oystercatcher working group's banding database, and I wanted to encourage you to report your band sighting (Google "American Oystercatcher Working Group") or any others you may make. Black 4P was banded in August 2005 as a hatch-year bird. We have no records of it in Virginia in 2010. Thanks for sharing your photos,
Lindsay Addison