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News Archive

19th August One from the archives, and this really is a record shot... Our latest ever (and this record still stands) Fieldfare, which was a welcome surprise on the 28th May 1994, taken on the grass field by Anston Parish Hall. If you squint, you can just about make out the grey rump.

Fieldfare @ S. Anston, May 1994 © Andy Hirst

18th July Tetrad Atlas Survey- just a reminder, both surveys to each tetrad should completed by now. If you can complete the paperwork and send it to the Recorder when you can. At the September indoor meeting will be fine.

15th July We can report we ran a very successful stall at Harthill carnival last weekend. The sun was shining and folk were out in their droves. We chatted to quite a few folk and recruited 8 new members. We also held a raffle for the latest Collins Field guide. If you know of any local shows, let us know, we'd love to attend and fly the flag for SK58 Birders.

Chairman Paul & Membership Secretary Liz @ Harthill Carnival © Andy Hirst

24th June Did you know, the group have invested in some new displays and will be attending some of the local fairs and carnivals? We've produced a set of smart displays so we can promote the group in a bid to spread the word and try to recruit more new members. So far we're signed up to the Harthill Carnival in July, but if you know of a local village fair, do let any of the group organisers know. We may be able to attend and promote the group.

If you're attending Harthill Carnival on the 11th July this year, pop along to see us. There's a prize draw to win the latest Collin's field guide. A little nearer the time we'll be asking for volunteers to help cover the stall from setting up in the morning, through to the afternoon. You don't need to come for the whole day. We'll create a rota so if you can offer just a couple of hours, we'd welcome your help.

5th June Next month sees the running of the Global Birdfair- often called the "Birders Glastonbury" (it can be muddy if it rains). It's a great day out, or even make a weekend of it. Its held near Rutland Water, in Rutland, between the 10th-12th July. There's multitude of marquees hosting trade exhibitions, art, optics as well several lecture theatres with well known local, national & international speakers, plus food and drink areas. For more info see: https://globalbirdfair.org/

19th May Another from our archive, this time a field trip to Foulstone Delf at Strines, near Bradfield. The members and the location look a bit different now thirty two years on.

SK58 Birders @ Foulstone Delf, April 1994 © Andy Hirst

22nd April Did you know the group has its own WhatsApp groups? We have two- one for sharing rare/ unusual bird news, the other more of chat forum. To join either, you have to be a current member of SK58. If you wish to join, pass your mobile phone number to the Recorder, Andy Hirst. With spring migration in full flow, don't miss out on those elusive migrants-join today!

14th April The group has topped 100 species for the year. Currently we have recorded 105 species so far in 2026. The arrival of some spring migrants swelling the list, with more to come. Don't forget to submit any records you make whilst out birding in SK58. And of course, if of interest, rarity or high count, to instantly let other members know via our WhatsApp group.

24th March We've received a polite request from the farmer at Hodsock, that observers view only from the track and not to enter any fields.

11th March The take up for the 2026 Tetrad Atlas Survey has been great! However there are four tetrads unallocated. If you'd like to cover a tetrad, or take on another, let Andy Hirst know ASAP. They squares currently free are P- Roche Abbey, Q- Gateford, S- Langold Holt & V- NW Worksop.

Following our recent trip to the Lower Derwent Valley, Duncan Bye has provided information on a new book "The Birds of the Lower Derwent Valley". If you would like a copy, email Lucy.Murgatroyd@naturalengland.org.uk
The cost is £25 plus P&P.

More on the book theme. A good friend at Peak Park is clearing out some books. Any reasonable offer won't be refused. Contact Andy Hirst in the first instance.

Biodiversity and Conservation in Agriculture - Proceedings of a symposium held by the British Crop Protection Council 1997 Chaired by R C Kirkwood

Habitats for birds in Europe- a conservation strategy for the wider environment by Graham Tucker and Michael Evans for Birdlife International 1997

Population Trends in British Breeding Birds - BTO 1990 (1992 reprint)

Britain's' Birds in 1990-91: the conservation and monitoring review - JNCC and BTO

The Historical Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland 1875-1900 - Poyser 1996

Red Data Birds in Britain - JNCC and RSPB Poyser 1990

Breeding Birds of Britain and Ireland - Poyser 1973

The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland - Poyser 1976

The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland 1988-1991 - Poyser 1993

Atlas of Breeding Birds in the Barnsley Area 2006-2011 - David Pearce and Peter Middleton

Farming and Birds in Europe: The Common Agricultural Policy and it's implications for bird conservation by Deborah Pain and Michael Pienkowski 1997

An Atlas of the Birds of the Western Palaearctic by Colin Harrison - Collins 1982 (dust jacket ripped at the top)

 

6th March Our friends at the Sheffield Bird Study Group have published a brand new and updated "Birds of The Sheffield Area". Non members can purchase here:

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BVTE5KC79ZLDJ

This is a fascinating history of the areas avifauna, and I'm sure correlates to the rises and declines here in SK58.

17th February A PLEA FOR HELP! Sometimes the meeting room at the Loyal Trooper isn't always set out how we'd like it, especially after a function. Would some members volunteer to come down to the indoor meetings a bit earlier? Just to help rearrange the tables and chairs if required. It only needs one or two volunteers. Andy goes down early to set up the laptop and TV screen, but its always a challenge if the room has to be set up too.

16th February Just to advise the Lower Derwent Valley trip has been rearranged for the 1st March.

11th February A timely reminder subscriptions were due on January 1st. For current rates and how to pay:

Although any donations in addition to your subscription would be greatly welcomed, to offset the ever increasing cost of speakers for example.

28th January The final records and species counts are in for 2025. We recorded 129 species over 4313 records. For other years see the Yearly Archive.

18th January This year is Tetrad Atlas year! For new members, every two years we survey the entire 10km SK58 square recording all the adult birds. Although this sounds quite daunting, it isn't really- being a 10km square, we divide it into tetrads. A tetrad is 2km x 2km square, of which there are 25 in SK58. We ask members to pick one or more tetrads and on x2 1 hour visits between late April and early July, record all the adult birds taking exactly one hour to cover a route through your tetrad. This could be a favoured location within SK58, or you could try a completely unfamiliar section of SK58 and discover new areas, and possible hidden populations.

Tetrad allocation, recording forms, maps and instructions will be handed out at the February and March indoor meetings. For consistency, ideally we would like folk to cover the same tetrads as previous years.

6th January Every year SK58 Birders run a friendly year list competition, to record the most species in SK58 in the calendar year. Over the years the number of species recorded has declined slightly, reflecting the range of species we've lost, although there have been some gains.

Our congratulations to Mick Clay who took the honours for 2025, with 122 recorded. A certificate to commemorate this achievement will be presented at the AGM at the January indoor meeting.

We're running the competition again this year, and its not too late to enter. Its good fun and adds another dimension and purpose to local birding. If you want to put your name down, just let the recorder know.

16th December "Wishing all current, past and future... members of SK58 Birders a peaceful Christmas and prosperous New Year"

9th December We were saddened to hear of the untimely passing at the age of 73 of Honorary Life Member Harry Vilkaitis. Harry was one of the original and active SK58 members, up to his retirement and subsequent relocation back to his parents' homeland in Austria seven years ago, where he created and enjoyed a garden nature reserve.

In the early days Harry was an avid ringer (I don't think we ever saw him with a pair of binoculars?) and was instrumental in advancing our knowledge of SK58 birds through his ringing efforts. An example of this was the winter passage of thrushes. Any casual observation at sites such as NAPT would record say 20 Blackbirds on a winter's day visit. A visit a week later would yield another count of 20. Any birder would therefore assume it was a stable/ static population of wintering Blackbirds. But… ringing and the lack of recaptured birds at this constant effort site, revealed birds were actually passing through. With no recaptures (or very few), revealing thrushes and in particular Blackbirds were transient, the 20 Blackbirds departing, replaced by a different 20 Blackbirds - this sort of data, only coming to light through Harry's ringing efforts week in and week out. It's through this Harry was made an Honorary Life Member in March 2023, reflecting his long-term and dedicated ringing and record submission.

Back in July 2025 we pulled out a photo from the archive from November 1993, for our News page, of Harry with a freshly caught and ringed Redwing. Harry also appeared in the SK58 Birders promotional video, way back in 2000.

Our thanks to Bob Croxton for passing on this sad news and to Geoff & Lyn Facer who continued to email Harry until recent months. Rest in peace Harry.

On a different tack, please remember subs are due in January, although you can pay now for 2026, and a reminder the AGM is held during the January meeting. For membership renewals email membership@sk58birders.com and if you wish to nominate someone, help or even stand at the AGM, then let one of the group organisers know before the organisers meeting on 21st January.