Old Moor Sofa

An update on the number of species recorded in the Old Moor Area this year, at the end of April the total was 153.

A further 9 species were added in May as follows - Whinchat on 3rd (154), Ruff on 4th (155), Sanderling on 8th (156), Spoonbill on 14th (157), Glossy Ibis on 15th (158), Red Necked Phalarope on 19th (159), Black Tern on 24th (160), Temmincks Stint on 26th (161) and finally Grey Plover on 29th (162).

At the end of May 2015 the total was 144 and at the end of May 2016 the total was 156 therefore a lot better than 2015 and slightly up on 2016.

A further 10 species were seen up to the end of May in those two years but not seen this year - Red Necked Grebe, Egyptian Goose, Red Crested Pochard, Red Footed Falcon, Turnstone, Laughing Gull, Little Tern, Alpine Swift, Spotted Flycatcher and Rock Pipit.

A fairly "standard" May after an average March and April, a purple patch mid to late month with Spoonbill, long staying Glossy Ibis, Red Necked Phalarope for three days and Temmincks Stint certainly made a visit worthwhile. However the general opnion was still of a poor spring with low numbers of summer visitors and vitually no wader passage with Turnstone absent for probably the first time ever although the species count at 162 is probably the highest ever count at the end of May. A very confusing year 2018 is turning out to be.

For comparison some other inland sites totals are as follows:- Swillington Ings, West Yorkshire 163, Upton Warren, Worcestershire 133 and Potteric Carr, South Yorkshire 144.