[deeestuary]

Tonight (1st March) I have about 150 Oystercatchers roosting next to a pond about a mile inland. This is within a small wildfowl collection where they often rest during the day. I don't know how frequently they roost here as I just happened to be walking past this pond at dusk tonight, I went back to check an hour later when it was dark, they were still there. It is coincident with some high spring tides.
I've never heard of Oystercatchers roosting inland on a moonless night before. Is this unusual behaviour?

[Jane Turner]

Richard - There were 100+ Inland at moreton too - I'm guessing the big tides are responsible!

[deeestuary]

Originally Posted by Jane Turner

Richard - There were 100+ Inland at moreton too - I'm guessing the big tides are responsible!

Was this at night?

[Capercaillie71]

Up here oystercatchers are common inland breeding birds on farmland and along rivers. At this time of year they return to their breeding areas and tend to roost in large flocks by lochs and ponds, before setting up their territories. Do you not have inland breeding oystercatchers down there?

[deeestuary]

Originally Posted by Capercaillie71

Up here oystercatchers are common inland breeding birds on farmland and along rivers. At this time of year they return to their breeding areas and tend to roost in large flocks by lochs and ponds, before setting up their territories. Do you not have inland breeding oystercatchers down there?

Only a handful. The Dee Estuary is a major wintering ground for Oystercatchers (c30,000), and these will be birds which have spent the winter here. But what you say is very interesting, even though these particular birds have not left for their breeding grounds yet they may well be more inclined to roost inland at this time of year if that is what they will be doing in a few weeks when they do leave to breed.
But given the cold weather, have any arrived up your way yet?
Many thanks

[Capercaillie71]

Originally Posted by deeestuary

But given the cold weather, have any arrived up your way yet?

Yes, I saw the first flocks near my house (25 miles inland) about two weeks ago, although they have now vanished with the heavy snowfalls. Late February is about normal for the first breeding arrivals.

I seem to remember that there is quite a sharp north-south divide for inland breeding oystercatchers. Several years ago a friend of mine from the south of England visited during the summer and was astonished to be driving through farmland and see oystercatchers perched on roadside fenceposts. Sometimes they come into the garden too and often perch on the roof of the house (not so welcome if it's 4am in June and they are calling loudly!).

[mrpjdavis]

A bit off thread, but I recently went to a slide show about Highland Birds. One slide showed oystercatchers nesting on a wooden tray, about 3' by 4', covered with pebbles, on the apex of a cottage roof. They originally nested on a shingle bank on the river, but often lost their eggs to floods. Clever birds!