One of the most interesting and colorful birds you can encounter on the North Beach is an American Oystercatcher. True to its name, it feed on bivalves (oysters, clams, and mussels) and uses its brightly colored bill to get at them.
They can be kind of skittish as many wading birds are, but if you take your time, don't rush, and ease your way along, you can often get very close to get some great shots.
I was able to follow a couple of American Oystercatchers for a while among the back bays on the North Beach of the island. Being patient, they eventually got used to my presence and I was able to get some good close-up portraits of the couple.
Here is a few shots that I took that afternoon:
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It's good to use a fairly long telephoto lens for these kind of shots, such as 400mm or more, so you don't get too close and alarm them. Another suggestion is to put the camera close to the ground, maybe just a foot or two above it, to take the shot. This provides a nice perspective of the bird, as if you are right at eye level, and helps to throw the background almost completely out of focus.
See my latest nature and wildlife images at:
www.duanelipham.com
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