Oystercatcher - Haematopus ostralegus

The Eurasian Oystercatcher - Haematopus ostralegus - is also known as the 'Common Pied Oystercatcher', the 'Palaearctic Oystercatcher' or just the 'Oystercatcher'. Contrary to its name, oysters are not a large part of their diet, preferring mussels, cockles and other molluscs which they smash or prise open with their strong beaks, they are very partial to earth worms when inland or when molluscs are in short supply. They are so named because they are actually capable of opening oysters which few, if any, other wading birds can. This one was spotted at Pennington Flash.

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