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Posted by Gary E. on 21:18:56 02/25/12
American Oystercatcher
Hillsboro Lighthouse, Broward County: Seen on 2-25-12 (7 AM - 9 AM) [Tides: L = 4 AM; H = 10 AM]
Directions: From I-95 in Pompano Beach, Exit 36, Atlantic BLVD (SR 814) & drive E 2.6 miles to SR A1A. Turn L & drive N 1.4 miles to NE 16th ST. Turn R & park in any metered spot ($1/hr). (Best time is when lot opens at 6 AM, before some birds are chased away by kayaks/dredges/commercial tow boats.) Walk E to beach. Turn L & walk N 0.6 miles to N end of beach at Hillsboro Inlet s S jetty (400 S of lighthouse beach on N side of Inlet). My 10x bino was overkill for this bird; scope only needed for peeps. (Note: Wood trestle at S jetty is extreme slip/trip/fall hazard & is almost never needed for birding.)
[Alternate Directions: #2: Park at SE base of A1A bridge (faster, but: scope mandatory; very limited sightlines; worse lighting; less apt to find this bird). #3: Rent boat at Hillsboro Marina & combine with de facto pelagic trip. #4: Park at Deerfield Beach & walk S 3.5 miles at low tide. #5: Make friends with a rich person who lives just N of lighthouse. #6: Wait until annual lighthouse tour.]
1 adult American Oystercatcher flew N in order to land on lighthouse sandy beach (between N jetty & private dock of lighthouse). It also walked on orange floating booms in the Inlet. Perfect lighting; observed for many minutes. Compared to the adjacent shorebirds/gulls/terns: the Oystercatcher's field marks are the most obvious & least ambiguous. The entire long heavy bill is vivid orange-red. Body = very large & plump. Below = pure white. Above = very dark, with bold white marking. Entire neck & head = solid black (with contrasting eye).
23 species total (e.g., 150 Black Skimmer, 8 Sandwich Tern, 1 female Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Willet).
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