Tuesday, April 26, 2011

American Oystercatcher



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!

48 comments:

  1. Those birds are wacky looking but well suited for what they do. I learned something new. I have never heard of the American Oystercatcher.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like the colour co-ordinated eyes and bill!
    I love your new header - very romantic.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  4. great shots! interesting place to band them - making them wear garter belts rather than anklets.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi 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!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I 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.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Interesting bird.I like that bright bill.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I 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!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great post-I learned about a new bird today! :)
    If they liked crawdads/crayfish (depending on where you live) they could even make a go of it in the irrigation ditches in the Southwest!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great close ups Eileen. Boom & gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You just cannot go wrong with oyster catchers.

    ReplyDelete
  12. So beautyful photos of a lovely bird!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Very, very similar to our species. I like the garters around the knees

    BTW Eileen the Lapwing is common in the UK although there has been concern about there numbers and breeding habitat loss for some years.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Very cool! Seeing the bands on them in really interesting. I wonder why its both legs....

    ReplyDelete
  15. Someone has more interest in her than us.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wonderful photos, thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great photos of the American Oystercatchers and interesting to compare them with the ones we have out here in Australia.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love your bird and watery shots, Eileen...
    Thanks for dropping by :)

    http://www.1sthappyfamily.com/2011/04/pond-at-restaurant.html

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Eileen, I also think that their beaks look like carrots, even the colors!

    First time to see these oystercatcher! I thought only cows have tags, so do the birds.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Almost the same as our Oystercatchers here Eileen. Lovely birds.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Excellent captures, Eileen. Love those orange beaks.

    ReplyDelete
  22. A great post and beautiful images. Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  23. The colors are amazing. Wonderful watery shot.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I saw this bird for the very first time while visiting Florida. Needless to say I was very captivated and took several pictures!
    Have a wonderful Wednesday!
    Debbie's Travels

    ReplyDelete
  25. Astounding!! What great action photos.

    Here's my Watery Link for the day:
    Skipping Rocks Sculpture and Fountain

    Have a super duper day!!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wonderful photos of a beautiful bird!

    ReplyDelete
  27. The beak does look like a carrot! This is a striking looking shore-bird.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Beautiful images of your lovely birds.
    Oystercatchers are always lovely to see.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Amazing shots! And interesting about the he American Oystercatchers!

    Wish you a great week, Eileen!

    Irene

    ReplyDelete
  30. 4P looks like one seriously happy oystercatcher, Eileen. Super photos!
    -- K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

    ReplyDelete
  31. 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

    ReplyDelete
  32. This 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.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Great shots of the Oystercatcher in his habitat!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Great post and photographs of the great looking birds!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love watching these guys when I can....Great PHOTOS--

    ReplyDelete
  36. I love the brightly colored eyes and bill. I wonder how that colored bill is an advantage....Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  37. Great 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.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Wow, love to see these birds in the wild. They are beautiful creatures

    ReplyDelete
  39. Oystercatchers look like they are in costume. Lovely shots!

    ReplyDelete
  40. It's so much fun coming to your blog Eileen. I have never seen the American Oystercatcher. They are beautiful! Love your header photo too.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Nice blog entry. I think these may be similar to the Killdeer in my area.

    ReplyDelete
  42. What marvelous eyes they have with that incredible orange color.

    -----------------------------------
    My photography is available for purchase - visit Around the Island Photography and bring home something beautiful today!

    ReplyDelete
  43. I love those birds. The orange eye ring is so unique.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hi Eileen,
    I 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

    ReplyDelete

Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

BTW, Anonymous comments unless a name is included will not be published. Also, comments with links will be deleted.

Have a happy day, Eileen

Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a ha ppy new week! "Sometimes miracles are just good people with kind hearts." Rick's Cafe, N...