Welcome to the SBSG website
Sheffield Bird Study Group was formed in December 1972 as a forum for birdwatchers in and around the city with an active interest in ornithology. The group's recording area, covering twelve 10km squares with the city roughly in the middle, is hugely diverse, stretching north to the outskirts of Barnsley, south to Chesterfield, east to the lowlands beyond Rotherham and Bolsover, and west to the highest tops of the Peak District National Park.
We aim to promote an interest in birds in the community, provide something of interest to all levels of birder, co-ordinate fieldwork and recording in the area, and work with and complement the work of like-minded local and national organisations for the benefit of birds. SBSG is registered charity No 510857. Click here for more.
Diary Dates
Indoor Meeting - 12th February
Keith Clarkson - The Caribbean
Keith’s talk looks at a trip he made to Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent and Trinidad in December 2018 with 'Birding the Islands’
Keith Clarkson
I am a passionate birder and conservationist. I was brought up in Sheffield with the Peak District as my playground. Here I got into birding and ringing at an early age, becoming an active member of the Sheffield Bird Study Group. At Sheffield University I received a PhD on the behavioural ecology of the Magpie, and was lucky enough to work on seabirds with Prof. Tim Birkhead in the Canadian Arctic. I dabbled with Yellow-billed magpies in California and Zebra Finches in Australia before settling down to spend many years working for Sheffield City Museum and the Peak District National Park.
Later I achieved my lifelong ambition, of joining the RSPB. A variety of posts followed and prior to my retirement in 2017 I was the Senior (old) Site Manager, responsible for the RSPB’s Bempton Cliffs and Coquet Island nature reserves - my dream job!
Throughout, I have been passionate about bird migration and have spent a lifetime studying visible migration both through the Southern Pennines and now on the East Coast of Yorkshire.
I am a trustee of the Garganey Trust, an active member of the RSPB, BTO and both Flamborough and Filey Bird Observatories and I lead tours of Iceland for Naturetrek and have branched into a possible new venture in the Caribbean, but I keep my feet on the ground by following The Owls - Sheffield Wednesday!
2019 was a year to remember. I was awarded the Professor Robert Boucher Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Sheffield, I received an MBE for services to wildlife conservation from The Queen and, found my first Fea’s-type Petrel at my beloved Hunmanby Gap!
Sheffield University - The Diamond - Lecture Theatre LT2 and the meeting will commence at 7.15pm
Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust
Volunteer Work Days
Thank you to everyone that helped with the last Volunteer Work Day, Tom appreciated all your help. The next mid week work day will be on Thursday 20th February and Tom will be leading it. The task will be continuing on the work started previously. If you arrive after 10am and need to contact Tom his number is 07706287737.
Please remember to wear sturdy footwear, rough warm outdoor clothing and bring your lunch, water, waterproofs and a hat. We will being tools, gloves and tea, coffee and biscuits.
User Forum Meeting
The next User Forum meeting is fast approaching too. Please see details below. If you would like anything to be added onto the agenda please let me know.
Blacka Moor User Forum Meeting
Saturday 21st March
10am -12pm
Come and find out about what we are up to on Blacka Moor. Find out about your local nature reserve and how it is managed. It is a great chance to ask questions and find out about future plans for the site. We would love to hear your views and ideas. This will be an inside meeting held at Totley AC Pavilion. Lane Head Rd, Sheffield S17 3AZ
Blacka Moor Bird Walk
Blacka Moor Bird Walk
Sunday 10th May
8am – 10.30am
Local bird expert Chris will be leading a morning bird walk through our diverse habitats. We will be looking and listening for resident birds and summer visitors. Suitable for beginners and experienced bird watchers alike. Bookable event: £6 per person, including tea / coffee and biscuits
Booking essential: here
On a separate note, sadly our interpretation board at Stony Ridge car park has been vandalised beyond repair and we have had to remove it. The incident has been reported to the police who are looking into it. We will replace the interpretation board as soon as we can.
Thanks, Hannah Wittram ( Community Wildlife Ranger )
Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust - Tel: 0114 263 4335
News
Stanage and North Lees
A public consultation is currently running to gather views on the future management of the North Lees estate and Stanage Edge and is open now until about February 27th. The Stanage Forum with SBSG input will of course make a formal response to an options appraisal that is far too limited in scope. However local residents and the climbing community are keen to make their views known on an individual basis.For those birders and lovers of nature who care about Stanage it would also be great if you could have a look at the public consultation link and respond. The link is here
The climbers (BMC) have all met and discussed the proposals and their response is available on the following link here
Birds of the Sheffield Area 2017
The 2017 edition of our annual report has now been published and has been distributed to everyone who was a paying member in 2018. Under 25 members will have received a PDF version. Non-members can obtain a copy by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Price £6 plus £2 p&p.
2019 Ring Ouzel survey report
The results of the 2019 Eastern Moors and Burbage Ring Ouzel survey season can be found here, with thanks to Kim Leyland.
Meet Richard Hill our new SBSG Chairman
Richard has identified key objectives that he hopes we can achieve -
- streamline the running of the Group;
- increase our membership, particularly among young people through education and engagement;
- form closer links with local & regional groups;
- expand our recording effort through new technology.
Read Richard's full chair's statement here
Cost-free fundraising for SBSG when you shop online
For details of how to raise money for SBSG, whenever you shop onlne, please see here for details.
Colour-ringed Willow Tits
During May 7 juvenile Willow Tits were ringed at Totley. Observers are asked to report all sightings of these colour-ringed birds. Each bird has a unique combination with a yellow ring over another coloured ring that is either blue, yellow, red, orange, black, light green or white, as shown in the example below.
Membership
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.
Help Sheffield University and SBSG support the Sheffield Peregrines
With your help we can provide more opportunities for people to learn more about these amazing birds as well as carry out important research. You can support the Sheffield Peregrines Project by donating through the Virgin Money Giving page.
Click on this link to learn more about the plans for the project and to donate:
