Black Oystercatcher

[Bonnie Block]

I photographed this fellow early today. Not the easiest of birds to get a good image of. They always seem to be foraging and never have their feet out of the rocks. Finding a clean bg and better pose will be a challenge for another day.
1DMKIII 300/2.8 IS +2X TC
1/640s f/6.3 at 600.0mm iso1000

[Doug Brown]

I've never had the good fortune to photograph one of these in the wild, and I'd love to someday. Don't mind the habitat too much Bonnie. Eye is evenly illuminated. Composition looks good. I think another round of USM would help, and I might tone down the leg brightness just a bit; this bird looks like I do the first time I wear shorts in the Spring! :)

[Alfred Forns]

Agree with Doug ....... I like the leg comment :cool: ......... Excellent light angle and nailed the exposure Love the shadow detail and head position. Good luck finding one in the open !!!!

[Robert O'Toole]

I am with doug I dont mind the habitat BG at all. Good job with the tough exposure!

You can get these guys in the open, but the places are in So Cal.

One drawback to using the 2X is the Bokeh quality goes way down compared to a straight prime. This is part of design criteria when they design a lens.

Robert

[Dave Phillips]

good all around Bonnie..agree on legs, but very minor nit.
Have never seen one of these, are the bills normally squared off at the tip?

[Bonnie Block]

Thanks, Guys!
I appreciate the feedback. It was fun to see them. Hopefully I will get a chance at them again.
Robert---you are supposed to tell me the bokeh looks great! LOL! ;>))) (just kidding!)
I cannot afford a 500mm right now, and I am afraid to let go of the 300! :eek:

[Bonnie Block]

good all around Bonnie..agree on legs, but very minor nit.
Have never seen one of these, are the bills normally squared off at the tip?

Hi Dave,
Yes--that is how the beak is. They dig out crustacians from between the rocks. I have another image of one with a small clam (limpet?) in it's mouth.

[Steve Canuel]

Hi Bonnie,
I really like the BG on this one but then I'm partial to environmental shots. I think he goes well with the colors. His pupil looks "out of round" to me but I believe its a natural thing for this particular guy. I'd be tempted to try to do some eye surgery on his pupil. Get some sunblock on those legs of his!
Steve

[Steve Maxson]

Hi Bonnie,
I really like the BG on this one but then I'm partial to environmental shots. I think he goes well with the colors. His pupil looks "out of round" to me but I believe its a natural thing for this particular guy. I'd be tempted to try to do some eye surgery on his pupil. Get some sunblock on those legs of his!
Steve

Hi Bonnie. I really like this image for the reasons noted above. Just wanted to follow up on Steve's comment about the eyes. Oystercatchers (American Oystercatchers, too) have irregularly shaped pupils. They look very odd and it takes some getting used to, but that is one of the cool things about these birds. :)