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page.Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegus
The oystercatcher is found practically throughout the whole world. In Europe it may be seen almost everywhere on the coast. Birds inhabiting the area south of the British Isles and Denmark are resident, those from more northern parts are usually migrant, wintering in southern Europe and along the coast of North Africa. North of the Black Sea and in central Asia it also breeds on shallow, inland salt lakes. Outside the breeding season it runs about in groups in shallows, on mudflats or sandy beaches seeking food. Spring is the time of the courtship display during which several birds run beside or behind one another, constantly uttering loud piping trills. Paired birds then stake out their nesting territories, which are not very big but which they courageously defend against all intruders. The nest is a shallow scrape in the ground, usually on the shore near water, lined with small shells or shell fragments, also leaves or grass. Both partners take turns incubating the two to four eggs. The young hatch after 26 to 28 days and remain in the hollow for 1 or 2 days after which they roam the neighbourhood with their parents. At first they are brought food by the adult birds but very soon they gather it themselves. The diet consists of molluscs, worms, insects and such like. The birds often probe deep in the mud and sand with their long bills to catch small invertebrates.
Click on any of the other bird links, these are Geese Barnacle Goose : Brent Goose : Canada Goose : Greylag Goose
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And the rest, in no real order of importance:
Common Sandpiper : Coot. : Corncrake : Curlew. : Dunlin : Greenshank : Lapwing : Moorhen : Oystercatcher : Redshank : Ringed Plover : Snipe : Spotted Crake : Stone Curlew : Turnstone : Whimbrel : Woodcock.
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