bird identification....again!!

[sparkle14]

I am almost too afraid to post again after the tellings off I had about my poor descriptions previously, however, I have the "birding bug" and have another bird to identify. I will try and get it right this time! The birds I have been watching (three of them) for the last week or so have been feeding on the mussels from the furthest crop of rocks away from the beach, never moving to rocks without mussels. They are quite a bit smaller than herring gulls etc, even taking the distance into account. They will not come into the beach, and I only sea them at low water when rocks are exposed. They feed alone, the gulls and plovers seem to leave them to it!. The bill is long, and appears orange/red. Plumage is black head, seemingly moving to dark grey towards wings and tail, except for, what looks like either a white stripe or spot across the shoulder. White underbelly. All my instincts tell me they are terns, but I cannot find a tern with black plumage and orange bill, also, will terns eat mussels? In flight, the wing has a definite white stripe across the shoulder area. I have only ever seen 2 or 3 of these birds at any one time. Any ideas? Regards, Tracey

[cherrybee]

Originally Posted by sparkle14

I am almost too afraid to post again after the tellings off I had about my poor descriptions previously, however, I have the "birding bug" and have another bird to identify. I will try and get it right this time! The birds I have been watching (three of them) for the last week or so have been feeding on the mussels from the furthest crop of rocks away from the beach, never moving to rocks without mussels. They are quite a bit smaller than herring gulls etc, even taking the distance into account. They will not come into the beach, and I only sea them at low water when rocks are exposed. They feed alone, the gulls and plovers seem to leave them to it!. The bill is long, and appears orange/red. Plumage is black head, seemingly moving to dark grey towards wings and tail, except for, what looks like either a white stripe or spot across the shoulder. White underbelly. All my instincts tell me they are terns, but I cannot find a tern with black plumage and orange bill, also, will terns eat mussels? In flight, the wing has a definite white stripe across the shoulder area. I have only ever seen 2 or 3 of these birds at any one time. Any ideas? Regards, Tracey

Sounds like Oystercatcher - Haematopus ostralegus to me
Hope Graham doesn't mind but here is a lovely photo he took of one in the Gallery if this helps.

[sparkle14]

Yes!!! Thats it!!! Thankyou SO much! Oystercatchers, wow! I will definitely be watching them for as long as they visit!

[cherrybee]

Originally Posted by sparkle14

Yes!!! Thats it!!! Thankyou SO much! Oystercatchers, wow! I will definitely be watching them for as long as they visit!

You are very welcome.Glad I could help.They are a very striking bird and I love to see them in flight.Never been able to get a good close up as I haven't the equipment and if you do mange to get close it spooks them and off they go

[zharca]

Hi, how do your Oystercatchers deal with the mussels? Are they strong enough to just crack them open?
I recently saw gulls down at Rye harbour hovering and dropping mussels onto stones to open them, which is a pretty common gull trick. They looked like they were really enjoying them once they were cracked and kept going back for more.

[Ben!]

I really love the orange beaks on these birds, looks very nice. Also I like the red eye.

[badgerwatcher]

Don't ever be afraid to ask questions, Tracey. We're all learning, and not knowing something doesn't make you stupid, it just means you haven't learned it yet. Everyone on here is happy to help with I.D.s, and it's good practice.

[sparkle14]

Originally Posted by zharca

Hi, how do your Oystercatchers deal with the mussels? Are they strong enough to just crack them open?
I recently saw gulls down at Rye harbour hovering and dropping mussels onto stones to open them, which is a pretty common gull trick. They looked like they were really enjoying them once they were cracked and kept going back for more.

They dont leave the rock while feeding, so I am assuming the bill is strong enough to crack them open! They really ARE brilliant to watch!

[sparkle14]

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

Don't ever be afraid to ask questions, Tracey. We're all learning, and not knowing something doesn't make you stupid, it just means you haven't learned it yet. Everyone on here is happy to help with I.D.s, and it's good practice.

Thankyou!! No amount of telling off would spoil my new found joy anyway!! I love being on the beach near the rocks, and now I have a good pair of binoculars, I keep discovering interesting and exciting birds and their behaviours. Is their any bird I should particularly look out for on the coast?

[smartie]

I heard recently that there are two types of oystercatcher behaviour. Some pound on the mussels to make a hole through which they eat the mussel - these end up with blunt-ended beaks - and others know how to open it with a twist from the hinge - these have sharp-ended beaks. I've not yet been able to test this out by observation, but will hope to soon when I go for my spring break at Budle Bay, where there are lots.