I'm an individual (part I)

It's the time of the year here in Thames (the migratory bird capital of NZ) when flocks of oystercatchers (these are South Island pied oystercatcher, or SIPO to their human friends) start moving up from their South Island homes. Later in the year, when winter hits down South, there will be huge flocks using the Firth of Thames estuary, together with wrybill, pied and black stilts. I've got a few plans being hatched photograph-wise to capture this spectacle - watch this space. But in the meantime this flock of about 200 was enough reason to start practicing.

About the photograph: first you need to know a bit about oystercatchers - during high tide they get crammed onto the beach between the rising tide and the houses behind. This is useful when you want to get a "crowd' shot. This was taken hand-held using Canon's 100 mm f2.8L macro lens (who says you have to use a lens for what its designed for) at ISO200 and f11. To add foreground interest I waded into the sea and waited for a small wave to give an interesting shape. (I also got badly bitten by sea lice - invertebrates that are known to strip the flesh in a matter of hours from fish caught in nets).