Eurasian Oystercatchers in the marshes of Gautegiz Arteaga

The ten of these Eurasian Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) stayed resting together with other waders: Greenshank (Tringa nebularia), Common Redshank (Tringa totanus), Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa), Dunlin (Calidris alpina), that during these days are resting at the inner part of the marshes in high tide.

 

Due to the wet mud area along the intertidal zone gets submerged in high tide, these birds have to return to calm areas in order to rest, as their specialized beaks are unable to feed in flooded conditions. Usually the chosen resting places are the ones that are higher, surrounded by marsh vegetation, creating isolated islands in the intertidal marshland.

 

It is remarkable the fact that they decided to have a rest at the marshes of Gautegiz Arteaga just in front of the center, which is the internal zone of the estuary where are common the waders mentioned before but not the Oystercatchers.