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.

[badgerwatcher]

I saw a mummy oystercatcher showing her baby how to be an oystercatcher last year, and he was watching and copying.
You stick your beak into the mud like this......
It was VERY sweet!

[Tursiops2]

Hi Sparkle14
I'm glad you haven't been put off, and you definitely have got the bug! Observational skills take a while to acquire, but you're well on the way - that was a nicely detailed description, with all the right elements of appearance, behaviour and habitat.

I don't know your part of the country particularly well (East Sussex, yes?) but I should think, being on the Channel coast, you should see a good selection of seabirds moving past as the migration season gets under way - gulls, terns, skuas, auks, fulmars, shearwaters etc. Seawatching is best done from a promontory or headland - try Beachy Head after a stiff SW gale. Don't neglect the land birds either; summer visitors and passage migrants often make landfall on the south coast, and rarities often turn up in your area - Beachy Head, Dungeness, Rye Harbour and Pevensey Levels are places that spring to mind.

Here's a couple of websites that might help:
Sussex Ornithological Society
BirdGuides East Sussex Page

All the Best
Tursiops2

[sparkle14]

Thankyou for all the info and advice! I will bear it all in mind, and have my eyes cast skyward as much as possible! I wont neglect the land birds, its just that I am spoiled, being lucky enough to live a two minute walk from Bexhill beach, and spend a lot of time walking my springer there. I love the woods also, and am hoping to spot a woodpecker at some point. I hear them every year, but never seen one. Best wishes all, Tracey

[sparkle14]

Oh, Joy at low tide! I went a little earlier than low water, to the spot where I had seen the three oystercatchers. It was around 6.30am, but a cracking morning! To my utter amazement and joy, I spotted 5 of the little tinkers, slipping and sliding on the rocks, having their breakfast! For all the world I could have handed my binoculars to the nearest person to show them! But everyone round here is still fast asleep at 6.30am on a Sunday morning. If only they knew what they were missing!!!..............