An adult with youngster.

I find European Oystercatchers quite difficut to get close to so I was pleased to be able to get an opportunity today.  Jenny and I went again to Rumps Point,  Cornwall  to try and catch sight of the Puffins that are reported to breed here in small numbers.  I have read recently that they had been seen and as we hadnt been lucky on our previous trip in May we thought we would have another go.  We drew a blank again, no idea why I couldnt see them but I scanned the nearby island with a scope and also searched the water for an age but there was no sign I am afraid to say.   There were a few Oystercatchers about and I noticed 3, two and their youngster on some nearby rocks and I managed to creep closer and closer without disturbing them.  I took a few photographs so my day wasn't totally wasted photography wise, but with the gorgeous weather and scenery to match, it was a lovely day all in all.  The Oystercatcher – Haematopus ostralegus is one of several Oystercatcher species that I have seen on my travels and for a comparison here is a photograph of the African Oystercatcher - Haematopus moquini   that I photographed in Cape Town at the beginning of the year. That species is all black and not pied like our familiar and much more common bird. The population of ostralegus  is thought to be 1.2 million  whereas the population of moquini  is estimated to be only around 5000.