OYSTER-CATCHER. 587 



" Item, See-Pyes for my Lorde at Princypall Feestes and non 

 other tyme." 



Thomas ALUs, in 1844, wrote : — 



H(smatopus ostralegns. — The Oyster-Catcher — F. O. Morris reports 

 it frequent on the coast ; W. Eddison remarks that it is rarely met 

 with near Huddersfield ; he has two specimens shot on Slaithwaite 

 and Marsden Moors in winter, near the Reservoirs. 



Although this conspicuous bird may be found on some 

 parts of the coast at all seasons of the year, it can strictly 

 only be termed a winter visitant, very local, and common 

 in some places, particularly at the Tees estuary. After the 

 nesting season small flocks begin to appear on their journey 

 from more northerly or Continental breeding places, occurring 

 as early as the 13th of July ; many more arrive in August, 

 whilst in September large migratory flights, sometimes 

 numbering three or four hundred individuals, are noticed 

 on passage, or frequenting the " slems " and sands of the 

 Teesmouth ; these migrants continue to arrive until as late 

 as the middle of November, and on the i6th of that month, 

 in the year 1898, several struck the Spurn Lighthouse. On 

 the Humber flats a few occasionally remain during the winter 

 and until late in spring, but in the Tees area it is quite a 

 rare bird between October and the early months of the year 

 following, when small numbers put in an appearance, and 

 many may be seen going northward in April and May ; on 

 27th February 1884 one of the largest flights I have ever 

 known was observed at the Teesmouth. 



The Oyster-Catcher was not known as a nesting species 

 at Spurn until the year 1888 ; it may, however, now be claimed 

 as a resident there, though in very limited numbers. In the 

 year named three nests with eggs were discovered, and since 

 that date one or two nests have been noted ; in 1903 two 

 pairs nested on the shingle banks, but it is to be regretted 

 that the birds did not succeed in hatching eggs in the year 

 following. 



As regards the Teesmouth, it is not at all improbable 

 that this species was included in the " Sea-fowl which laye 

 their egges here and there scatteringlye," as mentioned in 



