American Oystercatcher

[Sachin Saraf]

On last visit to Nickerson after shooting Common Terns I went looking for Juv OC and found this family where this male (?) was trying hard to get the clam out for the Juv.

I lied flat on my belly with 100-400 and slowly approached close to action. It was fun to watch the struggle. It would put the Shell and push it hard in wet sand to support and fix the shell so that it does not move and then give it a hard try to pull the Clam out but before it could succeed wave would spoil the party...it pulls it out and pokes another hole in near by wet sand. On this occasion it removed the shell and slightly turned towards me on it's way to another spot (I just managed to get it full in frame w/o clippings it's feet). You can see the hole right behind the bird.

PP - Beach cleanup, Nr on BG, Sharpening, Added Canvas at bottom and in front of bird and cropped slightly from behind (effectively Full Frame)

I also made a small video at the end when it successfully fed the Juv.

P.S. - I see some red cast in blacks but since I am looking at work monitor not sure also I was all confused with level so let me know if I need to rotate this one.

EXIF - Canon 7D | 10-400mm @400mm | f/7.1 | 1/1250 | ISO 500 (Handheld)

Comments and Suggestions most Welcome.

[Lorant Voros]

I like the eye contact and the shell in the beak, the low angle and the exposure. I would prefer the shore line not crossing the body of the bird and I think a less centered composition with more space on the lower side would make it stronger. Nice one.

[Sachin Saraf]

Thanks Lorant, I already added canvas at bottom and in front of the bird..I will try to move the bird to our left...Too close is not always good

[PhilCook]

Agree about more space on lower side.

Nice details though and great character shot, I've not observed this activity as of yet, quite fascinating ! Great colors and eye contact, looks great

[dankearl]

I would move it to the left and a bit more room on the bottom would be nice, but I assume you don't have it.
Cool shell!

[Sidharth Kodikal]

Excellent pose and details, Sachin. Exposure is great with a ton of details in whites/blacks. I don't see a cast. The shell adds to the story.
I'd back up on the sharpening just a teensy bit in the whites.
Just wondering why you didn't zoom out?

[EzhilSuresh]

Sachin, excellent image quality and action. Your description about the scene adds value to the image.

[christopher galeski]

nice image,nice detail,love the shell,it needs more room at the bottom,and right hand side.TFS.

[Rachel Hollander]

Good detail and exp. The clam just adds to it. I don't see a problem with the color. I too would prefer still a bit more room below.

TFS,
Rachel

[Satish Ranadive]

This is magnificent image. Great pose,beautiful colors and very nice lights.Very nice details in whites and blacks.Loved every thing in the frame.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Love the shell and the raised foot. Good colours, and the blacks look fine to me. I do wish for more room at bottom and right...with a zoom you need to zoom-out when too tight in the frame (sometimes I almost forget in the heat of the moment too).

I like your description of what you observed...I've always felt that many bird photographers learn and witness much more about birds than many birders themselves...especially hardcore "listers"...

[Sachin Saraf]

Thanks everyone for the nice comments...I will move the bird to left and add slightly more canvas at bottom as suggested by most...

Daniel, I always try and make a small video (if possible) when I see something different. On this occasion I could not zoom out as
1. I never expected it to gradually get closer to where I was lying
2. Zoom was locked (I am having issue with zoom lock ring as it would not tighten no matter how many time I rotate it so avoid playing too much with it) and finally
3. It was working on shell from other end and I was getting some nice behavior shots just fine but then it suddenly removed shell and started walking in my direction

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful shot. Real nice light, exposed very well, excellent details, and the clam really adds to this already great image.
Well done.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Sachin, reds and blacks look very good. the shell is what makes it so cool. low perspective is excellent. does it need CW rotation? but if this is close to FF, then you dont have any room for it, I guess.

[arash_hazeghi]

nice pose and good details. wish for more room in the bottom

[Shawn Zierman]

Wonderful scene and your text does indeed enhance the image. Great light quality.
Sharp details. Nice low angle. Subject placement looks great to me. You only need
more room on the bottom to totally rock this image imo.

[Giuseppe Varano]

Very nice behavior portrait of this young.
I subscribe about the more room on the bottom if possible.