Leucistic Oystercatcher
Technically, this isn't a great photo but I've decided to put it on because it might be of interest to birders. It's a Leucistic Oystercatcher. I've seen Leucistic Blackbirds before and we had a Leucistic Jackdaw that came to our garden regularly but I've never seen an Oystercatcher with Leucism.
According to Wikipedia, Leucism is a wide variety of conditions that result in the partial loss of pigmentation in an animal—causing white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales, or cuticles, but not the eyes.
We decided to take a detour round the top of Loch Beag at Struan because it's a good bit for waders (although usually at a distance) and this was what we came across. It was one of a pair, the other being normally coloured. I was lucky to grab a handful of shots before it flew off.
Leucistic Oystercatcher
Technically, this isn't a great photo but I've decided to put it on because it might be of interest to birders. It's a Leucistic Oystercatcher. I've seen Leucistic Blackbirds before and we had a Leucistic Jackdaw that came to our garden regularly but I've never seen an Oystercatcher with Leucism.
According to Wikipedia, Leucism is a wide variety of conditions that result in the partial loss of pigmentation in an animal—causing white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales, or cuticles, but not the eyes.
We decided to take a detour round the top of Loch Beag at Struan because it's a good bit for waders (although usually at a distance) and this was what we came across. It was one of a pair, the other being normally coloured. I was lucky to grab a handful of shots before it flew off.