Birds and Habitats in the SBSG area.
Photographs and Information.

Photographs and Info index page | Data by Site | Recent News | SBSG Home |

Grey Phalarope

Photograph Copyright © Jon Hornbuckle

A very rare species in the Sheffield area, since 1900 there have been only 5 records of Grey Phalarope, almost certainly involving just 4 individuals. All recent records occurred during the autumn passage period. Historical records refer to one at Staveley in 1720 and two shot at Little London Dam in 1867. "Birds of the Sheffield Area, etc", published in 1985, accounts for a further 4 records up to the date of publication. One was at Barbrook Res from 30th October to 2nd November 1969. Records of one at Barbrook [again] from 26th to 28th October 1972 and at Midhope Res on the latter date were presumably the same bird. It was a further ten years before the next, at Beighton on 18th August 1982. Since publication of the book [to the time of writing] there was just one more record. This juvenile [pictured above] was at Ladybower Res from 20th to 23rd September 1989. The bird spent most of it's time towards the neck end of the Woodlands Valley, doing what phalaropes are supposed to do [swimming on the water and doing the "spinning around to disturb food" trick], but was also observed walking around on the mud. In the western palearctic the species breeding range is localised, e.g. Iceland Spitzbergen, Bear Island, and other islands off mainland arctic Europe. They are mostly recorded on [or off] mainland Britain during autumn, with spring records far less numerous. This photograph was taken by Jon Hornbuckle. Last updated 23rd September 2001.

Top

Photographs and Info index page | Data by Site | Recent News | SBSG Home |

Copyright © Sheffield Bird Study Group.