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.

Recent News


14th March


Orgreave Lakes. Whooper Swan 6 flew N at 08:55, Curlew flew N at 08:55.


13th March


Broomhead Res. Goosander 14.

Bubnell. Mandarin 10.

Burbage Moor. Golden Plover 4.

Grenoside. Ring-necked parakeet

Middleton Moor. Whooper Swan - 17 still present am, 13 still there at dusk, Curlew 58, Teal 4.

Morehall Res. Great Crested Grebe 2, Woodcock 1 roding at dusk.

Rivelin Valley. Little Owl 1, Curlew 6.

Stocksbridge. Raven 2 displaying.

Wharncliffe Side. Woodcock 1 roding.

12th March

Agden Res. Whooper Swan 43 Early morning, 5 still midday with the other 38 moving to nearby Broomhead.

Kilnhurst. Barn Owl.

Linacre Res. Shag still present, Mandarin Duck 9.


Malin Bridge. Goosander 2 pair on River Loxley.









Middleton Moor. Whooper Swan 17 still present. Pintail 2, Shelduck 1, Curlew 59.

Orgreave. Curlew, Oystercatcher pair copulating, Ringed Plover red colour ringed and orange flagged (8A) This bird was ringed at Llanfairfechan, N Wales on 15 August 2015.


Pit-house West. Bittern, circled at dusk for 15 minutes gaining height and calling before heading off east until lost to view. Water Rail - 3 calling, Woodcock 3.

Rawmarsh. Green Woodpecker, Siskin 2, Red-legged Partridge 2.

Ravenfield. Little Owl.

Redmires. Curlew 30.

Silverwood Lagoon. Short-eared Owl at 09:35.







11th March

Aston. Whooper Swan herd calling over Aston at 01:30hrs

Elsecar. Goosander 8, Great-crested Grebe 6

Middleton Moor. Whooper Swan at least 15 visible through the mist.




Orgreave Lakes. Whooper Swan 10 at dawn until 09:10, 11 over N late morning, Common Scoter 13, Shelduck 3, Kittiwake adult at 06:45, Oystercatcher 3.




Rother Valley C.P. Whooper Swan 19, Cormorant 25, Great Crested Grebe 22, Wigeon 195.

Silver Wood. Whooper Swan - 1+ heard calling overhead.

Silverwood Lagoon. Ringed Plover 1, Wigeon 1 pr, Shoveler pr, Pochard 1m.

Shillito Wood. Brambling 1.

Whiteley Wood. Stock Dove 1 singing.

Wharncliffe. Woodcock 2

10th March

Linacre Res. Shag 2, Tufted Duck 22.

Orgreave. Dunlin 6, Ringed Plover 4, Redshank 2, Oystercatcher 2, Short-eared Owl.

Weston Park. Egyptian Goose 2 still present.


9th March

Orgreave Lakes. Curlew 3, Oystercatcher 5, Ringed Plover 2, Dunlin , Redshank , Shelduck.   

Middleton Moor. 16 Whooper Swan, 1 Stonechat.

Catcliffe Flash. 6 Mute Swan, 8 Shoveler (6m 2f), 4 Pochard, 7 Tufted Duck, 7+ Coot.

Haywood Farm. Woodcock 1 roding after dusk.

8th March

Brownhills Lane. Little Owl, c30 Fieldfare.
Heeley. Saxon Road Dipper.
Silverwood Lagoon. Peregrine 1 -N- at 08:30, Stonechat 2 at southern end.
Tyzack's Dam. Goosander 22.
Ughill. Golden Plover 100+, Lapwing c20.
Waverley. Ringed Plover pair opposite Winter Green Pub.


7th March

Agden. Curlew 100+ on fields at Windy Bank.
Brinsworth. Buzzard 2 over Canklow Industrial Estate. 

6th March

Broomhead Moor. Raven 1.
Green Moor. Goldcrest 1 on garden feeders.
Pit-house West. Bittern roosted at 18:00.
Rawmarsh. Whooper Swan 12 NW (10ad 2imm) at 17:35.


5th March

Tankersley. Barn Owl (23:00).