MR.OYSTERCATCHER

MR.& MRS.OYSTERCATCHER

OYSTERCATCHERS COMING INSIDE FOR THE WINTER

The Oystercatchers have begun to move from the outside to the inside.They always come in when the Fall/Winter storms begin to hit. It’s the only time I can get close to them.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER POSE TOGETHER

MR.OYSTERCATCHER’S CLOSE UP

OYSTERCATCHERS

Oystercatchers have a orange donut around each eye! Makes them look cute!

OYSTERCATCHERS

The weather “finally” broke today & I was off like a shot! The tide was perfect for bears too! I went up into Gunner & found a young female right away. She seemed a bit shy,so I played it cool. She was munching away on barnacles. Unfortunately for me,there were some clouds about. A black bear in the shade is not exactly the best way to show them. I like bright warm light to show that fur halo around their head!
She was the only bear home in Gunner Inlet,so I said goodnight & went on over into Fortune Channel to look for more. I found three more but could only get two of them. I had to beach the boat & walk up on land to get closer. They are staying further back from the shore because the fresh Spring sweet grass only grows above the tide line.
This is the time of year I get reacquainted with old friends & meet new ones. I can’t say I remember any of these bears,but will keep a eye out for them?
The sun went in behind Meares Island & that’s always my cue to head back for the harbour sunset. I stopped off briefly to chat with the Daredevil at Tsapee Narrows. Delilah was around as well. The sun was getting low so I continued on into the harbour. I came across a heron silhouetted against the setting sun & couldn’t resist.
I than moved on over to visit with my pal Romeo & his partner Juliette. I took some great shots of them but it turns out you won’t be able to see them ever! I downloaded them & reformatted my camera as usual. Turns out 170 shots were downloaded instead of the 276 I shot! The entire sunset shoot wasn’t downloaded for whatever reason? That really pissed me off! I’ll have to check each time now that the entire shoot was downloaded before I reformat!
It still was a great shoot & even better to find some of my furry friends back out again!

OYSTERCATCHERS

OYSTERCATCHERS

I love the orange doughnut around their eyes!

THE “GEORGIA PRINCE” COMING BACK IN

OYSTERCATCHERS

OYSTERCATCHER SUNSET

OYSTERCATCHER SUNSET

OYSTERCATCHER SUNSET

OYSTERCATCHERS SUNSET

BIRDS OF A FEATHER?

That odd fellow in the centre is a Marbled Godwit & it appears they have arrived one month earlier than normal!

A OYSTERCATCHER’S SUNSET

You can see Wilf rock in the background.

OYSTERCATCHER’S SUNSET

OYSTERCATCHERS

OYSTERCATCHERS

A OYSTERCATCHER’S SUNSET

OYSTERCATCHERS

OYSTERCATCHERS AT SUNSET

Beach Scenes

I decided to get out today,but didn’t get very far! Once I got downtown & saw that the clouds were going to strangle the light,I turned around & went out to the beach instead.

Frank & Frieda were both perched together in their nest tree. Frank is the one on the right.
The black bird is a Oystercatcher.
Monday looks good for getting out in the boat! Fingers crossed.

Oyster Catchers & Lennard Lighthouse

Oystercatchers

Brants Cormorants and Oystercatchers

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Oystercatchers

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I did see them picking away at the mussels,so they must be called “Musselcatchers” I guess?
They like this rock and I will make it a regular stop on my trip route.
Of course they can only be here at low tide and I can only be there near sunset.So it isn’t available all the time and thus I take advantage of it when I can.

Oystercatcher

These guys always light up my evening when I come across them. They just look so funny!
They are the only bird that can make me laugh!

Oystercatchers

They both were on a large mound of Mussels. I do not know if they were eating them or not? I don’t think so?
UPDATE: yes ,I did see them eating the mussels!

Oystercatchers

A Parcel of Oystercatchers in Flight

There was a Parcel of Oystercatchers on that rock just north of Strawberry Island.( A parcel is the collective noun for Oystercatchers)
I spooked them and they did two laps around me and than settled down. A friend believes that the recent storm we had is responsible for getting so many in one spot.
Cute little guys.

A Parcel of Oystercatchers

I managed to get closer to them. I’ve found that if I am very slow that they are calm and I can get close.
Not like a Heron! I’d never be able to get close to one of those guys. Maybe a young one,but not an adult.

Oystercatchers

Oystercatcher

Drive By

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I saw this boat coming into the harbour and set my focus and framing on the birds. I shot them while the boat went by in the background.

Oystercatchers and Common Surfbirds

This rock always has many different types of birds on it.
The Surfbirds looked like they were all taking a nap,so I didn’t get too close.

Oystercatcher and Gull

After Mr.Heron jumped,I found acouple Oystercatchers that volunteered to pose for me

OysterCatchers

These chatty birds were chatting it up on this rocky point.

Oystercatchers

These guys went by me and seemed to be playing.
Maybe,”catch me if you can”!

Oystercatcher

I liked how the white of the wave gave a better contrast with the Oystercatcher.

Oystercatcher and Lennard Island Lighthouse

I was out at Chesterman’s and came across this Oystercatcher. I found just the right spot to line up both the catcher and lighthouse together.
I’m always mindful of my background. It’s probably just as important as the subject.
Without either,you have much less .

Oystercatcher

I went out to Frank island tonight . It was very windy today,so no boating.
I always find these guys funny looking! They are also very chatty birds.
They use their specialized bill for opening Oysters,Clams etc.
Hence the name I suppose?
( Good thing they aren’t called Eye Ball Catchers!)

Oystercatchers and Sea Peak

These Oystercatchers were catching the last rays of the day. In the background is South Chesterman’s beach and Sea Peak. It has a unusual shape. Kind of like a Bee Hive. Sea Peak is on Meares island.

Oystercatcher

The sun seemed to highlight his eye. Strange how they have that orange circle around their eye.

Oystercatcher at Sunset

These guys spook easy. I had to sneak up behind rocks and pop up ready to shoot. I’d get a few shots ,than they’d take off. We played tag a few times.

Oystercatcher

A small flock of these guys were going around and around squawking ,as if I was near their nest! However,there were no nests near me!
They are a noisy lot anyways.

Oystercatcher

This guy landed not far from me. However when I tried to get close,he took off.
Before I moved, I got my safety shot however!
I always take a shot from the spot I see a animal. I than try to get closer and take closer shots. If I spook it and it takes off, at least I have something. Which is better than nothing!

Oystercatchers

These happy little guys were very content when I drifted by . Many times when I find a subject,I will go up tide and shut the motor off and drift by. The trick is to guess” WHERE “upstream do you place yourself so that after 5 minutes of drifting,your in the spot you want to be?