Oystercatcher - Haematopus ostralegus
This large black and white wader is easy to identify with its bright red beak.
It breeds on nearly all UK coasts but is also found inland around wetlands.
All year round
It feeds heavily on cockles and mussels but inland it eats worms. Oystercatches spend most of the winter on the coast, often congregating in large numbers.
Fairly common and widespread in Britain, particularly around the coasts.
Only an occasional visitor to wetland sites in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Rod Baker
Rutland Water
11 June 2013
Rod Baker
Rutland Water
10 March 2012
David Nicholls
Rutland Water, Egleton NR
14 May 2004
Rod Baker
Rutland Water
10 June 2014
Rod Baker
Rutland Water
28 March 2013
Rod Baker
Rutland Water
09 July 2013
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015
UK Map
Species profile
- Common names
- Oystercatcher, Eurasian Oystercatcher
- Species group:
- Birds
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Charadriiformes
- Family:
- Charadriidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 1109
- First record:
- 14/05/2004 (Nicholls, David)
- Last record:
- 22/04/2024 (Messenger, Nigel)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.
Latest images
Latest records
Rod Baker
Rutland Water
16 April 2013
Rod Baker
Rutland Water
11 June 2013
Rod Baker
Rutland Water
11 June 2013
Rod Baker
Rutland Water
18 July 2013
