Upcoming Field Trips:  Orgreave & Padley Gorge

We are pleased to announce confirmed dates for our traditional and popular spring field trips seeking out returning migrant species.

Orgreave Lagoons:  Saturday April 19th 7.30am

Padley Gorge:  Saturday 3rd May 8am

Both trips will depart from the traditional meeting points - details and map will be posted here closer to the time. 

Transport:  we have already had interest from several of our younger members and others who don't drive enquiring about transport options.  If any members are planning to attend and feel able to offer a lift to a fellow member please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or speak to the Chair or Committee Members at the April indoor meeting.  SBSG is an inclusive and welcoming group in the finest South Yorkshire traditions.

Orgreave Saturday 19th Apr 7.30am

Public Transport:

The No 95 bus runs from both Sheffield city centre and Rotherham city centre.  Alight at Front Street, Treeton at the top of Washfield Lane 

The time table can be found here: 

https://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/en-gb/timetabledetails/12c9beb3-e694-4712-8f22-40c13021aee4

The No 71 services also serve Front St from Sheffield City Centre and Aston/Todwick/Harthill.  Timetable here: https://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/TSY/media/Timetables/71-71a-71s-Sheffield-valid-from-01-September-2024-(PDF-745kb).pdf?ext=.pdf

There are services on both routes & directions which should get you to Washfield Lane around 7.30am  It is a 3 -4 minute walk from the bus stop to the meeting point

THE RSPB LOCAL GROUP - SHEFFIELD

Welcome to the RSPB Sheffield Local Group. RSPB local groups are a great way to meet friendly, like-minded people in your area while discovering more about birds and wildlife.

We hold our indoor meetings on the first Thursday of most months and run frequent midweek and weekend walks in and around Sheffield as well as coach trips to nature reserves further afield. SBSG members can attend meetings at RSPB members rates.

A key objective of our group is to raise money to support the RSPB’s work – on a local, national and even global scale.

Our indoor meetings - Sheffield Local Group

LIVE TREE SPARROW CAMERA 

In the 1970s Tree Sparrows used to be fairly abundant in the 1200 square km of the Sheffield region. They were present in over 60% of the area and sometimes seen in large flocks - in 2024 draft data shows only 27 birds were seen at only three sites; with 20 of them visiting my garden - this is the largest remaining stronghold so I'm sharing them live from Green Moor. This year I have had at least 22 birds together on the garden. 

Footage will be live when possible - the birds feed frequently but patience might be required. 

Click the Image to be taken to the live page of my YT channel - here you will see previous streams and if currently running the latest Live Stream.

Peter Garrity

 The Incompleat Birder

Martin Hodgson is the latest SBSG member to author a book

It’s a light-hearted account of his struggle over the years to gain some competence in birding.  In short, a story without a happy ending!  Printed by the University Press in the same style as the Annual Report, Martin hopes that it will attract people to make it their own.  Priced at £10 and containing 127 pages with many colour photos, it will be on sale at the March meeting and £2 of every copy sold that evening will go to SBSG.  Those who are interested but can’t make the meeting should contact him on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Peak District Raptor Monitoring Group

The Peak District Raptor Monitoring Group are fund raising to buy some Satellite tags to go on Short-eared Owls, this year and next. Below is the link to their Go Fund Me page. The details of who Raptor Aid are are included, along with details about NERF. 

Raptor Aid Grant Fund & Short Eared Owl Tag Fund, organized by Jimmi Hill

MEMBERSHIP LATEST

A reminder that when you first access your SBSG account in January you will be asked to renew your membership or continue as a guest. The Membership Mojo information pack can be found here - it has detailed joining/renewal instructions to help you with any queries.

Easyfundraising

New QR Code to use when shopping on-line - why not take a picture and store it on your phone for use in the future

If you shop online, don’t forget to support SBSG at no extra cost by channelling through easyfundraising  - Here's how to do it 

Results from the National Willow Tit survey

In recent years, our endemic race of willow tit (Poecile montanus kleinschmidti) have been lost from large areas of southern and eastern England and from parts of north and south Wales. Senior Conservation Scientist Simon Wotton explains why a survey was needed for this woodland birds, and what it shows us.

A blast from the past

For those of you looking to while away the long winter nights, a copy of the 1985 publication Birds of the Sheffield Area by the late Messrs. Hornbuckle and Herringshaw has just been uploaded to the site. Available to members, it can be found via the "publications" tab under the annual reports section.  

Good news for younger members

Free membership is now available for persons under the age of 25.  The age limit was previously 22.  And it’s available regardless of whether you’re in full time education or not.  Existing members should by now have received revised membership certificates from Martin Hodgson, the Membership Secretary.  If you haven’t but you think you ought to have, or if you are a paying member who now qualifies for free membership, please contact him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.