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Nature Reserves: ​Record-breaking Oystercatchers found on England's East Coast

29 April 2025
​​By James Hamilton
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Oystercatchers at Titchwell Marsh by Ben Andrew.

​Conservationists are celebrating the remarkable discovery of two record-breaking Oystercatchers just weeks apart on England’s East Coast Wetlands. The sightings highlight the critical importance of these habitats for long-lived wading birds.
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Volunteers from the Wash Wader Research Group (WWRG) identified the UK’s oldest known Oystercatcher - aged 41 years and 8 months - at RSPB Snettisham in Norfolk, surpassing the previous longevity record by three months. Astonishingly, just one week later, the same team recorded an even older bird on the nearby coastline - 43 years old, far exceeding the species’ average lifespan of 12 years.

Oystercatchers, with their striking black and white plumage, reddish-pink legs, and vivid orange-red bills, are commonly seen along UK shores. Their distinctive “peep-ing” call is a familiar coastal sound. These birds forage on beaches for cockles, mussels, and other invertebrates, making wetlands like The Wash essential to their survival.

​Jacquie Clark of the WWRG expressed astonishment: “Finding the first record-breaking Oystercatcher was incredible - but discovering an even older one days later is extraordinary. It reinforces how vital The Wash is for these birds.”

The birds’ ages were confirmed through leg rings. The first bird was ringed as a chick in 1983, likely at RSPB Snettisham. The second was already three years old when ringed in 1982, meaning it may be as old as 46. Both are thought to have spent every winter on the Wash since being ringed, underlining their strong site fidelity.

“Once Oystercatchers find a safe, food-rich wintering site, they tend to return year after year,” Jacquie explained.

Jim Scott, RSPB estate operations manager for Titchwell Marsh and Snettisham, emphasized the ecological value of the area: “The Wash supports up to 400,000 waterbirds each year, including around 26,000 Oystercatchers. It is the UK’s most important coastal wetland for migratory and overwintering birds.”
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The mudflats of The Wash teem with invertebrates such as ragworms, snails, and shellfish - ideal feeding grounds for Oystercatchers and many other species.

Bird ringing in Britain and Ireland, coordinated by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), has been an essential research tool for over a century. It provides crucial data on bird lifespans and movements. Dr. Ellie Leach, Head of the BTO’s ringing scheme, noted: “These birds have outlived many of the ringers who tagged them. Thanks to dedicated volunteers and supportive landowners, we now know Oystercatchers often live into their 20s and 30s - though these two are truly exceptional.”

In 2023, England’s East Coast Wetlands were added to UNESCO’s tentative World Heritage Site list, recognising their global significance to migratory birds along the East Atlantic Flyway. If approved, the wetlands could join icons like the Galapagos Islands and the Great Barrier Reef.

To protect these vital habitats for future generations, the RSPB has launched an appeal to support conservation at key sites, including RSPB Snettisham. Learn more or donate here: rspb.org.uk/donate/east-coast-wetlands
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Oystercatcher. Credit: RSPB
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