Oystercatcher (Eurasian Oystercatcher)
Haematopus ostralegus
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Distribution Britain 1,702 (+11.4%) Ireland 263 (+0.8%)
Numbers breeding: Britain 38,000 Ireland 3,500 European status: 235,000 (18% in Britain and Ireland =2) British population trend: long term increases (-16% BBS) How likely are you to record it? 510 squares (11.4%) Ranked 63 [75=] |
The black and white Oystercatcher is a big, bold, noisy and conspicuous bird. It used to be exclusively a coastal breeder (not East coast of Ireland) but seems to have started to breed inland on the north coast of Grampian about 160 years ago. River nesting, on shingle banks, and nesting on islands and the shores of lakes spread in this area, along the north side of the Solway and around Lough Erne by the end of the century. In Ireland the East Coast was colonised about 75 years ago but they are still not nesting along about 100 km of the South coast. Inland breeding, save for the few round Lough Erne, is still very unusual. However breeding inland has steadily spread to encompass virtually all Scotland, Northern England, many East Anglian river valleys, parts of the Midlands and started in Wales about 25 years ago. Breeding birds have been lost from Devon and Cornwall. Changes in behaviour have been suggested for the expansion but ringing shows that the birds are now very long-lived and, if this is new, it may be the reason. Roof nesting is recorded — possible since the adults bring food to their chicks (unlike most waders). Winter food availability may eventually limit the population growth. Further increases confidently expected.
From
The
State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead