A small mechanical study of a familiar coastal bird.

With a slow turn of the handle, the oystercatcher makes a series of feeding movements — precise, rhythmic, and quietly absorbing to watch. The action is simple, but the longer you observe it, the more character it reveals.

As with all these pieces, the intention is not exact imitation, but suggestion — reducing a natural movement to its essential form and allowing the mechanism to bring it back to life again and again.

Particular about this piece is the intriguing floating cam and very compact mechanism.

The bird and frame are made from American cherry, with additional components in birch plywood, brass, walnut, and engineering plastics.

Each material is chosen for its role in the movement, balancing strength, durability, and visual warmth.

Every element is designed and made from raw materials in my workshop near Cambridge, England.

All parts are carefully finished with multiple coats of acrylic gloss and matt lacquer. The bird itself is prepared with gesso, painted with acrylics, and sealed to bring out both detail and contrast.