Black Oystercatcher
Haematopus bachmani
The Black Oystercatcher is a rather shy bird. It uses its chisel-like bill to pry mollusks off rocks. They require a rocky shore to find their food, so we won’t likely see them on sandy beaches. They’re found all along the Pacific coast of North America from Baja California (Mexico) to the Aleutian coast of Alaska wherever they find suitable shorelines.
I read somewhere that John James Audubon wrote the first scientific description of the Black Oystercatcher. I’m not aware of any trips to the west coast he may have taken, so I have to assume someone collected a specimen out west, and shipped it east where he spent his time. I’ll bet it amazed him to examine such a striking, all-black shorebird with its bright red bill, pink legs, and yellow eyes surrounded by a red ring.
Today’s science considers the Black Oystercatcher as monotypic (i.e. there are no subspecies).
I’ve been lucky enough to capture images of these birds up and down the California coast. I once met Black Oystercatchers at the southern limit of their expected range, halfway down the coast of Baja California (Mexico) while on a seagoing science expedition to the Revillagigedo Archipelagos.
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40 Photos
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
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Description: Juvenile foraging near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:19 7:09 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: Sketch_jcd1007BlackOysterCatcher |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: Juvenile foraging near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2008-09-19. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:19 7:08 |
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Location:
Casa Pool |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/90 |
File Name: jcd0998BlackOysterCatcher |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: (Haematopus bachmani) Juvenile foraging near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2008-09-19. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:19 7:09 |
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Location:
Casa Pool |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: jcd1007BlackOysterCatcher |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: (Haematopus bachmani) Juvenile foraging near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2008-09-19. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:19 7:11 |
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Location:
Casa Pool |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 |
File Name: jcd1056BlackOysterCatcher |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: (Haematopus bachmani) Juvenile foraging near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2008-09-19. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:19 7:14 |
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Location:
Casa Pool |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 |
File Name: jcd1081BlackOysterCatcher |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: Juvenile foraging near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2008-09-19. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:19 7:15 |
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Location:
Casa Pool |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/180 |
File Name: jcd1089BlackOysterCatcher |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
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Description: (Haematopus bachmani) Point Loma, San Diego, California USA 2005-01-16. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:16 13:36 |
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Location:
Fort Rosecrans |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD_2890BlackOystercatcher |
| (C) 2005 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
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Description: These Oystercatchers had plenty of feeding opportunities at Piedras Blancas beach, where there is more than Elephant Seals to enjoy. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:29 15:32 |
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Location:
Piedras Blancas |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X9997-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: These Oystercatchers had plenty of feeding opportunities at Piedras Blancas beach, where there is more than Elephant Seals to enjoy. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:29 15:29 |
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Location:
Piedras Blancas |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X9949-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: These Oystercatchers had plenty of feeding opportunities at Piedras Blancas beach, where there is more than Elephant Seals to enjoy. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:29 15:28 |
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Location:
Piedras Blancas |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X9912-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: These Oystercatchers had plenty of feeding opportunities at Piedras Blancas beach, where there is more than Elephant Seals to enjoy. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:29 15:42 |
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Location:
Piedras Blancas |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X0104-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: These Oystercatchers had plenty of feeding opportunities at Piedras Blancas beach, where there is more than Elephant Seals to enjoy. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:29 15:33 |
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Location:
Piedras Blancas |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X0050-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: These Oystercatchers had plenty of feeding opportunities at Piedras Blancas beach, where there is more than Elephant Seals to enjoy. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:29 15:33 |
|
Location:
Piedras Blancas |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X0040-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: These Oystercatchers had plenty of feeding opportunities at Piedras Blancas beach, where there is more than Elephant Seals to enjoy. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:29 15:33 |
|
Location:
Piedras Blancas |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X0030-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: These Oystercatchers had plenty of feeding opportunities at Piedras Blancas beach, where there is more than Elephant Seals to enjoy. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:29 15:33 |
|
Location:
Piedras Blancas |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X0019-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: These Oystercatchers had plenty of feeding opportunities at Piedras Blancas beach, where there is more than Elephant Seals to enjoy. |
Date Taken: 2019:07:29 15:32 |
|
Location:
Piedras Blancas |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X0002-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: I met these birds raising babies on Pelican Rock in Crescent City California near the boat basin of the harbor. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:10 13:41 |
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Location:
Crescent City |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackOystercatcher-Family_D5X1176-CrescentCity |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
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Description: Our second landing on our way to the Archipielago de Revillagigedo was at Isla Asuncion, a seemingly barren rock of an island near the central coast of Baja California. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:11 13:26 |
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Location:
Isla Asunción |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X5054 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: Our second landing on our way to the Archipielago de Revillagigedo was at Isla Asuncion, a seemingly barren rock of an island near the central coast of Baja California. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:11 13:26 |
|
Location:
Isla Asunción |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X5046 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: Our second landing on our way to the Archipielago de Revillagigedo was at Isla Asuncion, a seemingly barren rock of an island near the central coast of Baja California. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:11 13:23 |
|
Location:
Isla Asunción |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X5031 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: Our second landing on our way to the Archipielago de Revillagigedo was at Isla Asuncion, a seemingly barren rock of an island near the central coast of Baja California. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:11 13:23 |
|
Location:
Isla Asunción |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/6400 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X5027 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: North parking area of the Elephant Seal Viewing Area at Piedras Blancas north of San Simeon and south of Big Sur California. San Luis Obisbo County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:16 14:07 |
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Location:
Piedras Blancas |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X3383-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: North parking area of the Elephant Seal Viewing Area at Piedras Blancas north of San Simeon and south of Big Sur California. San Luis Obisbo County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:16 14:07 |
|
Location:
Piedras Blancas |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X3353-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: North parking area of the Elephant Seal Viewing Area at Piedras Blancas north of San Simeon and south of Big Sur California. San Luis Obisbo County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:16 13:55 |
|
Location:
Piedras Blancas |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X3140-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: North parking area of the Elephant Seal Viewing Area at Piedras Blancas north of San Simeon and south of Big Sur California. San Luis Obisbo County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:16 14:06 |
|
Location:
Piedras Blancas |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X3292-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: North parking area of the Elephant Seal Viewing Area at Piedras Blancas north of San Simeon and south of Big Sur California. San Luis Obisbo County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:16 14:06 |
|
Location:
Piedras Blancas |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X3269-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: North parking area of the Elephant Seal Viewing Area at Piedras Blancas north of San Simeon and south of Big Sur California. San Luis Obisbo County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:16 14:06 |
|
Location:
Piedras Blancas |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X3299-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: One of my favorite regions to explore is California’s central coast. Always a favorite stop for me in Morro Bay, is the inlet at the north end of the bay, where this day graced me with a close encounter with Black Oystercatchers. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:01 12:39 |
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Location:
Morro Rock |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_8501440-MorroBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: One of my favorite regions to explore is California’s central coast. Always a favorite stop for me in Morro Bay, is the inlet at the north end of the bay, where this day graced me with a close encounter with Black Oystercatchers. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:01 12:36 |
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Location:
Morro Rock |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_8501367-MorroBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: One of my favorite regions to explore is California’s central coast. Always a favorite stop for me in Morro Bay, is the inlet at the north end of the bay, where this day graced me with a close encounter with Black Oystercatchers. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:01 12:33 |
|
Location:
Morro Rock |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_8501228-MorroBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: One of my favorite regions to explore is California’s central coast. Always a favorite stop for me in Morro Bay, is the inlet at the north end of the bay, where this day graced me with a close encounter with Black Oystercatchers. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:01 12:42 |
|
Location:
Morro Rock |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_8501487-MorroBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: One of my favorite regions to explore is California’s central coast. Always a favorite stop for me in Morro Bay, is the inlet at the north end of the bay, where this day graced me with a close encounter with Black Oystercatchers. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:01 12:34 |
|
Location:
Morro Rock |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_8501315-MorroBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: One of my favorite regions to explore is California’s central coast. Always a favorite stop for me in Morro Bay, is the inlet at the north end of the bay, where this day graced me with a close encounter with Black Oystercatchers. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:01 12:34 |
|
Location:
Morro Rock |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_8501268-MorroBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: One of my favorite regions to explore is California’s central coast. Always a favorite stop for me in Morro Bay, is the inlet at the north end of the bay, where this day graced me with a close encounter with Black Oystercatchers. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:01 12:40 |
|
Location:
Morro Rock |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_8501465-MorroBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: I don’t recall seeing oystercatchers on sandy beaches before. This pair was foraging on the beach exposed by a low tide in the Crescent City Harbor in the far northern California coast. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:23 12:00 |
|
Location:
Crescent City Harbor |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackOystercatcher_8506528-CrescentCity |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: I met these birds raising babies on Pelican Rock in Crescent City California near the boat basin of the harbor. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:10 13:41 |
|
Location:
Crescent Harbor |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackOystercatcher-Family_D5X1178-CrescentCity |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: I met these birds raising babies on Pelican Rock in Crescent City California near the boat basin of the harbor. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:10 13:41 |
|
Location:
Crescent Harbor |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackOystercatcher-Family_D5X1166-CrescentCity |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: North parking area of the Elephant Seal Viewing Area at Piedras Blancas north of San Simeon and south of Big Sur California. San Luis Obisbo County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:16 14:06 |
|
Location:
Piedras Blancas |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: BlackOysterCatcher_D5X3304-PiedrasBlancas |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: I met these birds raising babies on Pelican Rock in Crescent City California near the boat basin of the harbor. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:10 13:41 |
|
Location:
Crescent Harbor |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackOystercatcher-Family_D5X1171-CrescentCity |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Oystercatcher(Haematopus bachmani) |
|
Description: I don’t recall seeing oystercatchers on sandy beaches before. This pair was foraging on the beach exposed by a low tide in the Crescent City Harbor in the far northern California coast. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:23 12:00 |
|
Location:
Crescent City Harbor |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackOystercatcher_8506510-CrescentCity |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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