Occasional but, increasing visitor.

Since the 1980s records of Oystercatchers in Hertfordshire have increased and in 2008, they bred in the county for the first time. Nationally there has been a 28% increase due partly to birds breeding inland.

At Fairlands Valley Lakes they were first recorded on 22 August 1977 when a single bird was seen. Another was seen on 12 April 1979. With just one record from the 1980s with a single bird on 17 March 1987, they were not recorded again until 29 May 2003 when a single bird was seen. Three records between 2010 and 2019 of single birds on 4 March 2013, 27 March 2016 and 19 June 2016. Since 2020 they have been recorded annually, with the exception of 2022, with single birds seen on  27 February 2020, 18 March 2021, 17 June 2023, 8 July 2023 and 24 April 2024, two seen on 11 July 2024, three seen on 19 May 2025 and two seen on 15 April 2026.

Other records for Stevenage are, one flying low and, calling over Mildmay Road on 21 January 2013, one flying and calling at night over Derby Way on 30 July 2023 and two flying and calling over Chells at night on 27 April 2026.

Fairlands Valley Lakes 18 March 2021