Every now and then, I spot an Oystercatcher on one of the rocky plates on our sea shores. They’re usually hard to photograph, being such a sooty black and usually keeping far away from humans. This weekend, two of them broke the pattern.

I was in Wollongong, on the east coast of Australia just south of Sydney. Two Sooty Oystercatchers were pottering around on the rocky plate right next to the beach, prying food out of the crevices. This video shows only one of the birds:

They have long thin beaks, a striking orange in colour. Their eyes are ringed in a matching orange, and their legs are pinky-orange too, turning to yellow around the toes.

These birds are listed as uncommon, and scarce on disturbed beach areas. It’s good to see them just doing what Oystercatchers do.

Common name: Sooty Oystercatcher
Scientific name: Haematopus fuliginosis
Length: 40-52 cm
Date spotted: 9-10 August 2025 (winter)
Location: Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia: 34°25’04.4″S 150°54’08.8″E