MUGGERS OF THE MUDFLATS

Some oystercatchers prefer to pilfer…

They may have the heaviest, most solid, efficient-looking bill of all British wading birds, but oystercatchers are not above a bit of skulduggery to procure themselves a meal. Studies show that up to 60 per cent of oystercatchers’

diets are made up of food stolen from other oystercatchers, by threatening and harassing them until they give up their prey. They really are the yobs of the shoreline. Perhaps they deserve the abbreviated title ‘Oyc’ (phonetically ‘Oik’) given to them by birders!