Resting American Oystercatcher juvenile – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light
This juvenile American Oystercatcher belonged to a family that I followed for a few months at Fort De Soto County Park in Florida from the time the chicks were two days old until they left the adults. I’d written about them here.
I like the resting pose and the eye contact I got from the young oystercatcher and the background of the Spartina marsh. It was a great deal of fun to observe and photograph this oystercatcher family for three and a half months.
American Oystercatcher adult on Egmont Key- Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light
I was on on Egmont Key when I photographed this adult American Oystercatcher, I was in a Florida Master Naturalist class at the time and we spent the day there.
The class instructor cut her foot open while jumping off of the boat she came on.
It took less than ten minutes after stepping off the ferry from Fort De Soto for me to ruin brand new hiking pants and slice my knee open on a broken shell. I don’t feel pain like most people, so it wasn’t until blood was streaming over my foot that I knew how bad it was.
Then about mid day we saw a boat get swamped by waves on the western shore of the island. Despite all of those mishaps it was a great day to be out there.
I adored the color of the water in the background of this image, a wonderful turquoise blue that reminded me of the Caribbean. Or the water off of the coast of New South Wales.
I don’t get to see or photograph oystercatchers here in Utah but I still dream about these shorebirds and can hear their calls when I look at the thousands of images I took of them.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my American Oystercatcher photos plus facts and information about this species.
Beautiful captures Mia! That photo of the adult is simply mesmerizing!
Thanks much Larry!
Wonderful post, Mia, and great images! The more I look at your photos shot with the Nikkor 80-400 VR lens the closer I come to a decision on getting one too.
Thanks Hilke. I found that the 80-400mm VR lens was great for photographing birds in Florida, a little slow in low light but wonderful in great light.
Wonderful shots! I love that orange eye! Maybe I’ll get to see some when I visit Florida in the spring!!
Karen, I hope that you get to see the Oystercatchers when you go to Florida, they are such interesting birds. Thanks for your comment.
It’s amazing the difference between the juvenile and the adult. I don’t think I would have been able to tell the difference. Oystercatchers frequent the coasts of solitary beaches in Puerto Rico also.
Thanks Maria, I loved watching the different stage of development the chicks went through.
Something about their eyes. Carol
They do have neat eyes. Thanks Carol.
Great pictures of an Oystercatcher.
Thanks Bob!
Wonderful composition, pose and color contrast on that 2nd image, a pleasure to view.
Thank you Jim!
They’re such goofy but cool looking birds. These are wonderful photos of them. The color of the surf just sets them off. I especially love the cute chick photos on the next page – they’re adorable!
Tami, they are kind of goofy looking but very interesting looking birds too. Thanks so much for your comment.
Wonderful photos! Love the eye in the second one!!
Thank you Linda, I think they have wonderful eyes!
I love these birds too. Being out in the prairies here, it’s always a treat to see them when we can get out to the coast. You captured some stunning photos of them!
Thanks Scott, I miss seeing them since I moved to Utah because they are amazingly beautiful birds. Thanks for commenting.