ABSTRACT
Seven species, with representatives in all zoogeographical regions. Two (29%) are found in the Afrotropical Region, and one is a non-breeding migrant to Kenya. A Palearctic species, wintering on African coasts South (S) to Senegambia and North (N) Somalia, with only occasional records further S. Recorded annually on the coast in very small numbers since at least 1977. Earlier records were mostly in the very early Jul-Sept period and on rocky offshore islands N of Malindi 103A, and the species was considered rare on the mainland. Early (1932) descriptions of Oystercatchers as "common" on the coast no longer apply so that there may have been a decline. Old records at L Naivasha 62C and L Victoria are ignored by Ba and treated as unconfirmed by Dowsett (1980), but there have been Feb, Mar and Jul records at L Turkana, and two Sept birds at L Nakuru 62A.
