Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: American Oyster Catcher feeding

  1. #1
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Minneapolis MN
    Posts
    587
    Threads
    93
    Thank You Posts

    Default American Oyster Catcher feeding

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    American Oyster Catcher at Bunche Beach, Ft. Myers Florida a few days ago during my vacation, picking the last bits of food from the shell it opened. I wanted a better head angle while feeding, but the bird would not do it, but I feel the cool shell and behavior makes up for it. I would have liked to be closer so no teleconverter or cropping would be necessary, I was slowly inching my way closer crawling through the water getting all sandy and splashed by waves, and the birds appeared that they were going to let me in as close as I wanted. I aimed my lens toward a black bellied plover in nice breeding plumage, when all of a sudden all the birds on the sandbar started running and flew away in a hurry. I looked to see what spooked them. A peregrine falcon swooping down and almost snatching a Sanderling! So the image quality is still good enough for a smaller print though. Canon- 7Dll, 100-400 ll, 1.4xlll. 1/2500, f8,560mm, 640iso

  2. #2
    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Princeton, NJ
    Posts
    12,487
    Threads
    1,892
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I really like the way this shows how they use their bills to open shells. I've tried to capture this behavior, but not as well as this. Great light, excellent shell, terrific low POV. The seaweed placement may be less than ideal, but the sharp, well lit bird and shell clearly take one's attention. Good eye, focused on the task at hand, trumps the HA in my opinion.

  3. Thanks Michael Thompson thanked for this post
  4. #3
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    3,065
    Threads
    1,300
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    yes nice image and shell adds to story

  5. Thanks Michael Thompson thanked for this post
  6. #4
    Lifetime Member gail bisson's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Nova Scotia
    Posts
    12,731
    Threads
    910
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    This is lovely Michael.
    Love the shell and not even a little bit put off by the HA.
    Great POV and nice light. IQ looks good despite the crop.
    I like it!
    Gail

  7. Thanks Michael Thompson thanked for this post
  8. #5
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    7,831
    Threads
    461
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Stunning capture in lovely light Michael, I enjoyed viewing as well as reading the story behind the image.

    I like the composition and colours, this is well exposed and processed and IQ looks really good.

    Lovely behavioural frame, you should be so pleased with this!

    Thank you so much for sharing,
    Gabriela Plesea

  9. Thanks Michael Thompson thanked for this post
  10. #6
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Minneapolis MN
    Posts
    587
    Threads
    93
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks for the nice replies everyone! This probably my favorite image of my florida vacation last week, and will make it on my wall! :)

  11. #7
    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    10,347
    Threads
    403
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Lovely image with great light. Love the behavior and see no issue with the HA b/c of the behavior captured. I would crop some off of the bottom.
    Marina Scarr
    Florida Master Naturalist
    Website, Facebook

  12. Thanks Michael Thompson thanked for this post

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics