Oystercatcher  (Haematopus ostralegus)

Originally, the oystercatcher was mainly a coastal species in Britain; it is still found around the coastline, but between 1974 and 1986 it increasingly colonised inland waterways, particularly in Scotland and northern England (5). During winter, resident birds are joined by immigrants from Iceland, Norway and the Faeroe Islands (3). It also occurs around the coasts of northern and western Europe, patchily around the Mediterranean and parts of the coast of eastern Asia, as well as inland from the Caspian Sea towards central Asia (4).

Occurs in estuaries, on rocky, sandy and muddy shores, as well as along the banks of rivers, lakes (4) and gravel pits (7).