Sea Pies
Oystercatchers are known as Skeldro, Chaldro, or Shaalder in Orkney. If you think those names are difficult, internationally they are known as Haematopus ostralegus.
A trip to the even-more-northerly-than-Westray island of North Ronalsay gives us an opportunity to see them close up.
Their red eye-ring is very distinctive:
As is their piercing alarm call:
And so is their ability to fly away at the first sign of your presence:
Seeing them is a great experience.
More Oystercatchers
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Scolder As soon as I walk anywhere on the coast of Westray, there's a noisy complaint. The Shaalders, or Scolders, are… read more
Oystercatcher in sunshine Sometimes Oystercatchers call out in alarm as I approach. Sometimes they fly and harass me. Sometimes they just sit and… read more
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