Haematopus bachmani, Black Oystercatcher

Black Oystercatchers fall into the category of really easy to remember shore birds. There are so many others that are harder to distinguish for beginners or once distinguished their names get lost to memory. It takes work and review to stay up with shorebirds. But oystercatchers are easy.

I spotted this pair sunning themselves on the rocky spit south of Kala Point south of Port Townsend. I felt a bit bad disrupting their rest. So I headed up onto the upper spit and hid behind the large driftwood logs to get a around them. By the time I got even with them they were back at work seeking mussels.