This annual event takes place on the first Sunday in January with teams from around Greater Yorkshire (the old boundaries before politicians messed with them) competing against each other in their chosen recording areas to find most species of birds. Obviously some areas are better than others so an 'average' scoring system has developed to try and level the playing field,whereby the team that excels most on the day is the winner.
There were four teams in the Barnsley area (out of a total of 17 countywide), with two opting to cover the full recording area and two sticking to the Dearne Valley RSPB Reserves (and close by).
The weather was very unhelpful on the day with the predicted rain starting bang on time around elevenish and continuing through to dark. The teams scored the following totals;-
Barnsley 'A' 91: Tyke-Owls 73 (the owls as usual letting the side down): Wath Wardens 85: Old Moor-the management 81. Worthy of note is that between the latter two teams a total of 90 species were recorded in the lower Dearne Valley. And between the four teams a total of 102 species were recorded in the Barnsley area. Highlights from the day include;- Bittern, White-fronted Goose, Peregrine, Ruff, Green Sandpiper, Jack Snipe, Glaucous Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Firecrest, Chiffchaff, Willow Tit, Brambling.
The highest scoring team in the whole event covered the Scarborough area and amassed 107 species, beating their average score by 9. The best team score from Barnsley beat their own average score by 6 (if only the Tawny Owl, Buzzard, Fieldfare and Jay had played the game instead of remaining hidden).
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