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| Oystercatcher |
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| Cormorant |
The Oystercatcher is a bird that is found along our coastline during the winter months, but has started to move inland to breed, where it nests on river banks, the shores of lakes and gravel pits. A bird that does not eat or catch oysters, but instead it feeds on mussels and cockles at the coast and worms inland. The population of this bird has been slowly growing during the last 50 years, although in the 1970`s it was `culled` in South Wales to protect the commercial cockle industry (this has now, thankfully stopped) and has a breeding population of around 30-40,000 pairs.
The Cormorant in the photo above looks to be of the european race sinensis which has started to colonise Eastern Britain due to the white patches on the crown and upper neck. Another bird whose fortunes are linked to commercial fishing interests, with calls being made for the bird to be `culled` due to its liking for eating fish. Whilst Cormorants undoubtedly take fish, long-term damage to commercial fish stocks has not been proven and the bird remains protected, although if fisheries can prove damage is being done they can apply for a license to shoot a limited number of these birds. The population is around 12,000 pairs.
Not everything in nature is black and white.
Lovely birds to see John... and I am so lucky to have them breeding on my patch... mid Cheshire.
ReplyDeleteHi Andrew,
DeleteI always look forward to the arrival of the first Oystercatchers of the year, it makes me realise that Spring is just around the corner!
J
Couple of lovely birds John.
ReplyDeleteA pair of Oystercatchers are nesting at my local lake.
After e-mailing the RSPB re the proposed culling of Cormorants a little while ago, it was good to know that they will be voicing against such a thing.
Hi Keith,
DeleteWe have a few pairs around and about at the moment, one pair being at my patch of Maxey GP, so hopefully there will be young at some point.
J
Great photos John! The Oystercatcher is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tammy,
DeleteThank you, I find black and white birds very pleasing on the eye.
J
Nice shots especially the O/Catcher John.
ReplyDeleteWe are fortunate to see plenty of these around our area.
Thanks Roy,
DeleteYes, we are lucky in having a few around, not many oysters for them here though! ;)
J
I believe Oystercatchers can be seen on Canvey Island in Essex (a good place to view birds). In fact tyhere is a nice pub there called The Oysterfleet.
ReplyDeleteJohn, may I take the liberty of asking you to help me to identify a garden bird that my wife and I have spotted for the last three days?
It has a Robin-coloured red breast but is a bit bigger than that bird. It's head is all-over white and smallish and its legs are fairly long and spindley. It's bill is of the insect-eating variety. I have failed to identify it online or in any book so far.
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Hi Bazza,
DeleteI am pretty sure that you would be able to see Oystercatchers there, looks a good bet!
As far as your bird I.D. query, I am not quite sure. The only thing I can think of with a red-breast like a Robin, is a Robin. The bird you are seeing may have some sort of leucistic feathering giving the appearance of a white head, but other than that I am not sure I am afraid. Try and get a photo, even if it`s not a good one, sometimes you can tell a bird from it`s overall appearance.
J
Tut, tut, a Cormorant liking to eat fish, whatever next!!!....I'll spare you a rant on my views on a cull but I'm sure you can imagine ;-)
ReplyDeleteLovely photos! I do like Oystercatchers, not that I ever see them anywhere near me :-(
Hi Jan,
DeleteI had a feeling that this would make you feel like that, I can imagine how you feel ;)
Thanks for the kind words about my photos. I am sure it won`t be long before Oystercatchers move in to your neck of the woods.
J
I can still remember seeing my first Cormorant. I was about twelve at the time and got very excited about it! And I still like to see them. So thanks.
ReplyDeleteYou are more than welcome John. It is always nice when you can remember you first sighting of a bird. Mine of both these birds was on holiday in Northumberland with my parents and brother, a holiday that started me in my love of nature.
DeleteJ
Love that oystercatcher! I didn't realize the cormorant had any white on it. I wonder, is the one I see this side of the pond different?
ReplyDeleteHi Susan,
ReplyDeleteThank you. The Cormorant in the photo is a sub-species that comes from eastern Europe and has started to settle in east England, so I would imagine the Cormorant you have is the `normal` sub-species which we have too, it just wouldn`t have worked in the `black and white` theme! ;)
J