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Golden Plover

Photograph Copyright © Mark Reeder

Golden Plovers are on many a list of favourite wading birds. In Sheffield, the species can be seen in all months of the year to varying degrees. Small numbers breed on the uplands where we are at the southern-most limit of its' breeding range. With recent mild winters a small flock often remains on moorland such as Burbage or at Rud Hill until hard frost or snow cover drives them off, but the largest flocks can be seen to the east of the area, where numbers are supplemented by winter visiting birds. The ploughed fields around Harthill/Pebley or the Ulley/Brampton area have often held several hundred, sometimes a thousand or more, and Rother Valley CP also plays host to good sized flocks. In recent years, however, numbers of breeding birds have dwindled in the southern Peak District and wintering flocks are seldom as large as in the past. The top photograph, if a winter plumage bird, was taken by Mark Reeder at Rother Valley CP in early February 2001. The middle picture [Tony J Morris] was taken in 1980 and shows a small flying party of birds in mid-august in various stages of moult from summer plumage. The bottom photograph [also by Tony J Morris] shows two birds from a larger party on Burbage Moor on 20th April 2002. These two individuals are probably northern birds, formerly known as the race P.a.altifrons.  Last updated 16th June 2002

Photograph Copyright © Tony J Morris

Photograph Copyright © Tony J Morris

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