Pic of the Day

American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliates

Fort Desoto State Park, Saint Petersburg, Florida                                                                                                   

     The American Oystercatcher is one of the most beautiful shorebirds in the Americas.  I photographed this one at Fort Desoto State Park in Saint Petersburg, Florida.  When I arrived there were few birds on the beach.  Another photographer was working a small group of feeding birds that included a Reddish Egret and a few shorebirds.  I found a Great Egret, but soon after shooting a few shots it flew to spot where the reddish was feeding.

     After the egret flew I moved to the tideline where I found a Willet probing the sand for mollusks.  Things were pretty slow and I though about leaving whenI Looked down the beach and saw an American Oystercatcher fly in and begin probing the sand with its orange beak.

American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliates

Fort Desoto State Park, Saint Petersburg, Florida

     It had been years, I mean film days, since I had photographed an oystercatcher.  Like lighting I was down the beach in a flash.  With the oystercatcher so busy feeding, it paid me no attention. 

     I began shooting about fifty feet away, but wanted to be closer.  As I scooted along the sand toward the oystercatcher I shot a few more frames, fearing that the oystercatcher would take flight.  As I got closer and closer, instead of flying away it became completely comfortable with my presence and began moving toward me.  I could not believe my good fortune.  As it fed along the tideline I shot frame after frame.  At times it came so close that could not focus the camera lens. 

     After shooting more than a thousand frames I left the oystercatcher to its activities.  It was one of the best mornings I’ve had in a long time.  I had been totally immersed with a bird that accepted my presence without fear.  Very few people get such an experience, and I hope I get a lot more.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1250 sec. @ f9, ISO 640

Pic of the Day

American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus:  Fort Desoto State Park, Florida

     Without doubt, the American Oystercatcher is my favorite shorebird.  I love its bright orange bill, yellow eye, and pied plumage pattern.  I was fortunate last spring while shooting turnstones along the beach at Fort Desoto State Park to spot this American Oystercatcher further up the beach.

     As soon as I saw the bird, I moved in its direction with the greatest stealth I could muster.  Once I was about fifty feet away, I sat on the beach and let it come to me.  It was so busy probing the sand that it paid no attention to me.  I had a great time watching its feeding behavior, but this perfect portrait pose made my day.  I am really looking forward to getting back to Fort Desoto this coming spring. 

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/2500 second @ f/9 

Pic of the Day

 American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus:  

Fort Desoto State Park; Saint Petersburg, Florida

     Four more images of the American Oystercatchers I photographed at Fort Desoto State Park during the first week of March.  I enjoyed this shoot so much.  I really love photographing shorebirds and the oystercatcher is one of my favorites.  This oystercatcher was totally unexpected when I saw it fly onto the beach.  I was cautious in my approach fearing that I would frighten it to flight.  But much to my surprise it seem to have no fear of my presence and came so close to me at times that I could not focus the lens.  I love being in such close quarters with wildlife, especially when they go about their natural behavior.

Pic of the Day

American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus

Fort Desoto State Park; Saint Petersburg, Florida

     I shot so many Oystercatcher photos on my recent trip to Florida that I am just now getting through all of them.  I 
posted three a week ago (see March 7th Post), but I have so many. 
This bird was so cooperative it allowed me to get some great close ups.  I particularly like this one because of the surf in the background.  Because I have so many nice shots of this bird, I will post a few every now and then.  I just love this bird!  You will probably get tired of seeing oystercatchers, but please bear with an old mans obsession.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1250 sec. @ f9, ISO 640

Pic of the Day

American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus

Fort Desoto State Park; Saint Petersburg, Florida

     I had some really great shooting opportunities in Florida this week.   This American Oystercatcher was photographed at Fort Desoto State Park in Saint Petersburg.  When I arrived I saw few birds.  Another photographer was working a small group of feeding birds that included a Reddish Egret and a few shorebirds.  I found a Great Egret, but soon after shooting a few shots it flew to spot where the reddish was feeding.

American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus

Fort Desoto State Park; Saint Petersburg, Florida

     After the egret flew I moved to the tideline where I found a Willet probing the sand for mollusk.  Things were pretty slow and I though about leaving, but then the Willet pulled a mollusk from the sand.  After a few shots things got pretty exciting.  A few Ruddy Turnstones flew in and joined the Willet.  Things were really hopping then.  The turnstones began feeding and all were coming so close that I could not focus the lens.  They ran to and from the waters edge to wash off the prey they were pulling from the sand. 

American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus

Fort Desoto State Park; Saint Petersburg, Florida

     Looking down the beach I saw an American Oystercatcher fly in and begin to probe the sand with its orange beak.  It had been years, I mean film days, since I had photographed an oystercatcher .  Like lighting I was down the beach in a flash.  The oystercatcher was so busy feeding that it paid me no attention.  I began to shoot about fifty feet away, but wanted to be closer.  

     I scooted along the sand toward the oystercatcher and shot a few more frames.  Setting in the sand the bird became completely comfortable with my presence and began moving toward me.  I could not believe my good fortune.  As it fed along the tideline I shot frame after frame.  At times it came so close that could not focus the camera lens.  While shooting the oystercatcher, Ruddy Turnstones, Black-bellied Plovers and Willets joined in giving me more shooting opportunities. 

     After shooting more than a thousand frames I left the birds to their activities.  It was one of the best mornings I’ve had in a long time.  I was totally immersed in the birds, and they seemed to have accepted my presence without fear.  These are just three images from the shoot, but I will post more in the coming days.

    Please come back in a day or so to see the turnstones, willets and plovers.  I hope you enjoy these images as much as I enjoyed taking them.   

     _{Top:  Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/4000 sec @ f 7.1, ISO640}

 _Middle:  Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/2500 sec @ f 8,    ISO640

_Bottom:  Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/3200 sec @ f 8,    ISO640

Pic of the Day

   American Oystercatcher – Fort Desoto Park; Saint Petersburg, Florida:  There were very few birds at Fort Desoto Park when I arrived, but those that were feeding in the estuary made good subjects for my camera.  While I was photographing a winter plumed Black-bellied Plover a pair of American Oystercatchers flew-in and landed on the mudflats very close to me.  The female ran to quickly to the grassy edge of the estuary while the male stood his ground on the mud flats.  As I shot a few frames the male took off in a quick sprint toward the female, allowing me to shoot this image as the Oystercatcher ran at full gallop.  My favorite part of the image is the movement, and the water kicked up as the bird runs across the flats.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 500mm f4, Digital Capture ISO 200,  Exposure 1/1,250@ f6.3

Pic of the Day

     American Oystercatcher - Fort Myers Beach, Florida: I cannot count the number of times that I have tried to photograph oystercatchers---and failed. Never happy with the images -- always to small in the frame or shots of their backsides as they flew away. On a trip to Florida one May, I made my usual trip to the Fort Myers Beach sandbar to photograph shorebirds. As I walked out to the waterline an adult oystercatcher ran into a small lagoon into full sunlight, paused and began to preen its feathers, giving me the opportunity I had so long awaited. Sometimes things just come together. Bobby