Adult American Oystercatcher among Sea Purslane – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light
I like to include habitat in my images when I am able to do so, especially when the habitat doesn’t obstruct the view of my subject or when the habitat helps to define a sense of place.
I have taken hundreds of images of American Oystercatchers in or near water and that shows only a part of the habitat where these shorebirds can be found, they can also be found among stands of Sea Oats, Spartina or as shown in this image, Sea Purslane.
I was at Fort De Soto and Egmont Key from before sunrise to well after sunset the day I photographed this American Oystercatcher in late evening light.
This American Oystercatcher, used to the human foot traffic on the beach, walked right past where I was laying on the sand at the north beach.
Back then, I was taking a Florida Master Naturalist course and our class met on Egmont Key that day so I thought I might as well photograph at Fort De Soto’s north beach before I hopped onto the ferry to Egmont Key.
By the time I took the ferry back to Fort De Soto I figured I might as well stay for sunset and see if I could capture the “Green Flash” as the sun set.
That night I didn’t see the green flash but I was thrilled to be there as the sun dipped below the horizon. I was exhausted, sweaty but very happy to have enjoyed the day so thoroughly.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my American Oystercatcher photos plus facts and information about this species.
wow, so close, and impressive eye too, i imagine all the exitation you have got in this moment
bravo mia ☺
Hi! I sure enjoyed the picture and your work so much! People can learn so much from all you write about your photo’s! Keep up the good work!
Thank you Mom, I love doing what I do.
I like the colors, vibrant and alive; I saw a pair of these on this neck of the woods.
Thank you Maria. I do miss seeing these gorgeous shorebirds.
Those are the best days aren’t they? Something to hug to ourselves. This is a beautiful bird – and the colours around the eye are sooo dramatic. Thank you.
EC, I do hug that day to me, it was marvelous from sunrise to sunset… well except for the deep gash on my knee that I got from kneeling onto a sharp piece of shell to photograph another Oystercatcher on the Key, the brand new hiking pants that got slashed by the shell and my instructor cutting open her toes/foot on something under the water when she got off the boat. Looking back the gash in my knee & pants were worth the memories.
Yes, that orange ring around the eye surely gives him a wild-eyed expression… a stunning look for a rather dignified bird.
They are rather dignified & stunning. Thanks Maria
Picture perfect. I appreciate your daily efforts Mia — a nice change from the news, which is often depressing.
Thanks Utahbooklover, I agree the news can be depressing and for me nature balances that out.
Beautiful!
Thank you Scott!
His eye looks like a jewel of some kind
Thank you Patty, their eyes do look like jewels.
What beautiful colors this bird has…so elegant yet flashy…love the eye…great shot! We used to live in South Miami, spent beach, diving time in the keys…very nostalgic.
I loved the Keys Patty, the water there comes in so many shades of blues and South Beach? What fun it was, especially the night life and people watching. Thanks for commenting on this post.