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Dunlin

Photograph Copyright © Richard D Hill

The preferred breeding habitat of Dunlin is wet upland moorland, and the Pennines of Derbyshire are at the very southern limit of the species breeding range in England, with only a few pockets in the Welsh hills more southerly. Thus there is a small breeding population on the Sheffield moorlands. Unfortunately, however, numbers have declined in recent years. Certainly pairs on the moorland fringe at the lower limit of their altitude range, are at best spasmodic. The moorland edge around Redmires, for example, often held a pair or two. But this area has suffered in recent years from drainage and from increased human/recreational disturbance, and it is now rare to hear the rasping buzz of a breeding pair here. And it is a similar story on other areas with territories now only held on the less accessible moorlands. Although it is usually recorded in every month of the year, the number of wintering birds has also declined. The best opportunity for seeing the species then, is on passage at places such as the lagoons at Middleton Moor, the moorland reservoirs and lowland waters such as Carr Vale, RVCP and Thrybergh CP. March to May and July to October are the main passage months. This photograph was taken by Richard Hill at Redmires on 23rd September 2001. The bird was perched on the slope of the top dam wall. It is probably a juvenile which has almost completed its post-juvenile moult into a first winter type plumage - it still shows the remains of the rusty juvenile ear coverts, a couple of rows of juvenile wing coverts and some traces of upper flank streaking. Last updated 4th November 2001.

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