Black Oystercatcher

May 2012 – Secret Beach, Oregon

Sometimes you sit and wait for a bird to do something – anything – to make the photo memorable. This Oystercatcher only opened his bill for a moment, but it added a whole new dimension to the image. Almost like he’s warming up his jaw to take-on that mound of mussles he’s standing on. Or, maybe he had something to say. A moment later, he flew off.

Black Oystercatcher

January 2009 – Shi Shi Beach, WA

I came across these Black Oystercatchers on Shi Shi Beach – along the Washington coast – in early 2009. Usually, these birds are quite skittish, but I managed to get fairly close, just being patient. I waited for a wave to crash behind them to add a little drama, and some better contrast to the scene. Normally, having two subjects in an image isn’t a good approach, as the eye doesn’t know where to settle (three or one is better…), but it is what it is… I figure, it’s also pretty uncommon to get a couple Oystercatchers lined-up like this, so I’ll take it.

Black Oystercatcher

May 2011 – Sister’s Rock, Oregon

Here’s another pair of Black Oystercatchers – this time along the southern Oregon coast. Strange that sometimes these birds won’t let me get within 100 yards, and other times, they seem not to care about me at all.