Captured this neighborhood pheasant just as he declared victory in a territorial battle with another male. Wish I had been able to get my phone out fast enough to get the battle on video, but it went down quickly! Then this guy trotted into my front yard followed by his hen. These guys usually squak all day (the males). What a racket they make!
(Sorry about the raindrop smudges; we do live in the PAC-NW!)

Black Oystercatchers photographed off a rocky sandbar at North Beach here in Port Townsend, WA.

Great pic, great story! There are Pheasants here also, and I love them and they do make a racket, staking out their territory! I just pulled this pic from recent files, and I never noticed until just now, that this male Pheasant is "banded"?? Check the right leg. I wonder if it escaped? We have a lot of Pheasants here, and you frequently see a hen going with a bunch of young behind her. I am certain none of those are "banded". Interesting! Again, great pic!!

fwmosher said:Great pic, great story! There are Pheasants here also, and I love them and they do make a racket, staking out their territory! I just pulled this pic from recent files, and I never noticed until just now, that this male Pheasant is "banded"?? Check the right leg. I wonder if it escaped? We have a lot of Pheasants here, and you frequently see a hen going with a bunch of young behind her. I am certain none of those are "banded". Interesting! Again, great pic!!

Your guy looks a lot better fed than the ones in our neighborhood!