American Oystercatcher foraging in a tidal pool in the early morning, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, FloridaAmerican Oystercatcher foraging in a tidal pool in the early morning – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/350, ISO 400, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 300mm, natural light

When I lived in Florida and photographed at the north beach of Fort De Soto County Park I would say that 98% of the time I arrived at the park before sunrise because I loved being at the beach when the sun came up over the horizon. I’d sit quietly waiting for sunrise and relax. Feel at peace. It was as if I watched the world wake up. I miss sitting and watching the sun come up. I’m going to have to start doing that again soon.

Right after the sun came up I would start to look for birds to photograph and almost eleven years ago my first subject of the day was a foraging American Oystercatcher. I was laying in the tidal pool with the oystercatcher when I photographed it.

My 80-400mm lens was being repaired at the time so I took my 70-300mm lens with me that morning. The birds were used to people being on the beach so I knew I would still be able to get frame filling images of my subjects.

I could have gotten closer to the oystercatcher that morning but I wanted as much of its reflection as I could get.

American Oystercatcher foraging in the light of dawn, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, FloridaAmerican Oystercatcher foraging in the light of dawn – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/320, ISO 400, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 300mm, natural light

The soft light of dawn has a special quality to it and I believe that it is evident in both of these American Oystercatcher photos. Laying in the water with the oystercatcher while it calmly moved through the water foraging? It was priceless.

Life is good. Stay safe.

Mia

American Oystercatcher facts and information:

Haematopus palliatus

  • American Oystercatchers are large shorebirds with black heads, brown backs, white undersides, large red bills, yellow eyes and have pink legs with black toenails.
  • There are only two species of oystercatchers in North America, Black Oystercatchers and American Oystercatchers. The American Oystercatcher has an eastern race along the Atlantic and Gulf coast and the second race on the Pacific coast.
  • American Oystercatcher habitat includes beaches, mudflats, spoil islands, dunes, salt marshes and other coastal habitats. American Oystercatchers don’t go far inland.
  • American Oystercatchers eat mollusks and prefer bivalves, they will occasionally consume fish. Their bill is specially adapted to prying open shells.
  • American Oystercatchers can be either solitary or colonial nesters. They lay 1 to 4 eggs which take 23 to 28 days to hatch. Both sexes incubate and they are monogamous.
  • Northern birds are migratory.
  • A group of oystercatchers is known as a “parcel” of oystercatchers.
  • American Oystercatchers can live up to 17 years.