Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) are a large wading bird (fig. 1). Adult breeding plumage is a striking black and white body with pink legs and a bright orange beak. Oystercatcher breed in open habitats both natural and urban (i.e. rooftops), and winter communally at coastal sites. Their diet largely consists of cockles, mussels, and worms (Svensson et al, 2020). Oystercatcher typically live to 12 years, breeding at 4 years (BTO, 2023).

Population & Distribution:
There are around 96,000 pairs of Oystercatcher which breed in the UK each year, and the UK hosts a wintering oystercatcher population of 305,000. However, the UK breeding and wintering populations have shown a 21% decline between 1995 and 2022 (BTO, 2023). Oystercatcher are a widespread and common resident species to the East Grampian Coast, although there appears to be a small downward trend in numbers recorded (fig. 2-5). Breeding has been recorded along the East Grampian Coast at various sites including Loch of Strathbeg, Forvie NNR, Girdle Ness, and St Cyrus. Throughout the year oystercatcher have been recorded at a number of other coastal sites such as Rosehearty, Balmedie, Blackdog, Donmouth, and Inverbervie (SOC North East Scotland Branch, n.d.). 

Conservation Status:
Oystercatcher are an Amber listed species due to their non-breeding localisation and the importance of the UKs breeding and non-breeding populations (Stanbury et al, 2021).

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