'Kleep'.......

......is the call this Variable oystercatcher  is making while in flight, while on the ground he makes a 'hu-eep' alarm call. They fly strongly and directly, but do not tend to fly up in flocks.

I spent a wonderful few hours with blipper mpp26 wandering along the beach. The tide was in, the sky was moody and a light breeze was coming in off the Pacific Ocean. Not many birds about mainly variable oystercatchers and a couple of tiny Banded dotterels. A tern or two flew by along with the odd shag but really it was quiet. Thanks M for coming out, I thoroughly enjoyed catching up :)

Variable oystercatchers are coastal birds and widespread along the coastline of New Zealand.  They are the only oystercatcher that show plumage variations, with the birds seen in two main plumage phases: either all black or a pied form. The black form is more common in the South Island. They are protected and endemic.

Probably no comments tonight as Mum and I are heading out to an outdoor carol evening. We'll be rugged up and sitting in our deck chairs listening to a local brass band and children singing carols, I can't help but feel a little Christmassy.

Enjoy the weekend everyone - Happy Friday :)

Scientific name: Haematopus unicolor
Common name: Variable oystercatcher
Maori name: Toreapango