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.

Oystercatcher - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Their red eye-ring is very distinctive:

Oystercatcher - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

As is their piercing alarm call:

Oystercatcher - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

And so is their ability to fly away at the first sign of your presence:

Oystercatcher - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Seeing them is a great experience.

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