Todwick Environment: Wild Birds

Brian Chambers, a member of SK58 Birders, writes articles about wild birds in Todwick.

SK58 Birders is a local birding group that meets monthly in the upper rooms at The Loyal Trooper, South Anston.

We have over 60 members; club nights always include a slide-illustrated talk and a report on local bird sightings. New members are always most welcome.

For further information please contact Brian Chambers, 01909 770816 or visit: www.sk58birders.com

SK58 Birders – September 2024

The fields lining the footpaths to South Anston have been home to many bird species over the past month or so. Within the SK58 birder’s group recording area this site is called Axle Lane, the road name at South Anston. This area is intensively watched by one of our most active members, nothing much escapes his eagle eyes.

The most unusual and rare bird record was a juvenile Dotterel present over the bank holiday weekend. One was recorded about a decade ago on the same Axle Lane site. The bird was seen by over 200 people, twitchers is the word, alerted by the local birding network over mobile phones.

Dotterel breed in upland arctic areas of Northern Europe, the Scottish Highlands do support a number of breeding pairs, but numbers have declined. Birds migrate south through Europe to North Africa in the Autumn, hence the brief stopover of our bird to feed on the stubble field insects.

Another regular Autumn migrant is the Wheatear, Axle Lane is the most reliable spot in our recording area, most often seen close to or on the old stone wall beside the footpath, 6 birds were recorded one day.

The Golden Plover should be around soon, just a few single birds have been recorded, hopefully flocks of 50-100 should be with us over the next few months.

Over the Summer other uncommon, rareish birds over Axle Lane include Hobby, Red Kite, Raven and Marsh Harrier. Hobby are Summer visitors which chase and feed on Swallow and House Martin. Red Kite records are becoming ever more frequent, the birds probably feeding on earth worms as much as anything. Raven records are also on the increase. Marsh Harrier are rare, usually just flying through, and need a bit of luck to spot.

Gulls are present in the hundreds as the farmers plough the fields. Lesser black-backed Gulls are probably the most numerous, followed by Black-headed, now minus the black head, then Herring Gulls and a few Greater black-backed. Nowadays an occasional Yellow-legged gull is spotted, a southern variant of the Herring Gull, the only difference is the yellow as against the pinkish legs.

Further afield, 6 Little Egret were recorded near Dinnington and a juvenile Ringed Plover on the water scrape at Hodsock.

So, if you ramble on the Axle Lane footpaths look out for a possible bird rarity.

Brian Chambers

Continue to 2023 reports.