Old Moor Sofa

An update on the number of species recorded in the Old Moor Area this year, at the end of March the total was 124.

A further 28 species were added in April as follows - Swallow on 2nd (125), House Martin on 4th (126), Little Ringed Plover on 4th (127), Yellow Legged Gull on 4th (128), Greenshank on 6th (129), Blackcap on 6th (130), Whimbrel on 7th (131), Willow Warbler on 7th (132), Common Tern on 8th (133), Caspian Gull on 12th (134), Little Gull on 13th (135), Arctic Tern on 13th (136), Common Sandpiper on 14th (137), Whitethroat on 15th (138), Reed Warbler on 15th (139), Black Necked Grebe on 15th (140), Lesser Whitethroat on 16th (141), Garganey on 17th (142), Cuckoo on 18th (143), Sedge Warbler on 18th (144), Yellow Wagtail on 19th (145), Great White Egret on 20th (146), Swift on 21st (147), Hobby on 22nd (148), Grasshopper Warbler on 26th (149), Garden Warbler on 28th (150), Raven on 29th (151) and finally Wood Sandpiper on 30th (152).

At the end of April 2015 the total was 138 and at the end of April 2016 the total was 146 therefore a lot better than 2015 but very similar to 2016.

A further nine species were seen up to the end of April in those two years but not seen this year - Red Necked Grebe, Egyptian Goose, Mandarin, Red Crested Pochard, Grey Plover, Ruff, Black Tern, Alpine Swift and Rock Pipit.

A very average April followed the very average March, again the month was dominated by the weather, cold nearly all month with snow at the start and a few very wet spells. Although all the expected summer visitors arrived during the month they were mainly late and in very few numbers, a depressing picture. No raritys during the month, the best probably the now annual Great White Egret on the 20th. Lets hope for a better May both birdwise and weatherwise.

For comparison some other inland sites totals are as follows Swillington Ings, West Yorkshire 154, Upton Warren, Worcestershire 128 and Potteric Carr, South Yorkshire 134.