Waders of the Lost Arc-hive (didn't ought did I?)

As promised, this is the first post of a series of Waders from around the World, hope you enjoy them.

Variable Oystercatcher - Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand

Magellanic Oystercatcher - Falkland Islands
Blackish Oystercatcher was also photographed the same day (Boxing Day 2007) but being pursued by a Falkland's Skua, it looks rather like a blurred stick being thrown into the sea.

Sooty Oystercatcher - Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia

Black Oystercatcher - Cape of Good Hope, South Africa

I'm not going to use the 'O' word in case I upset both myself and others, but I just don't know how I get so much information mixed up (maybe that's why my World Bird List stands at 12,800?) The pictures of Chesil beach, below, have no connection whatsoever with Spring Tides, or any other tides for that matter. The erosion and movement of the beach was caused by the storm of 9th February 2009, as the histogram above adequately highlights. My apologies to all and sundry.

Wind and Wave Riders

It was drafty on the fore-shore at Ferry Bridge this morning with even the 'sail shaped' banners on the newly erected lamp post 'yards' being torn from their moorings. At least it was keeping the few Waders that were there close to the deck, making counting fairly easy. Much the same as yesterday with 94 Dunlin, 126 Ringed Plover, 6 Turnstone, singles of Knot & Sanderling plus 4 Wheatear. It was the second day on the trot I didn't record a Mediterranean Gull.

Sanderling

It's tomorrow I believe the World Windsurfing Championships get underway, and if the 'warm ups' over the past couple of days are anything to go by Gold is going to be extremely difficult to achieve. Capturing the action on a single shot still is impossible, so my advise is, if you are able, get down to the edge of Portland Harbour and experience what maybe the biggest FREE thrill you'll get this year.

Plain Sailing

followed by Rough

and Tumble (click on image to see the bigger picture)