25 August 2025
Some photos from Thorne Moors
Thorne Moors bird sightings.
Birds that are less commonly seen on Thorne Moors, recorded by the author.
Anyone who is not familiar with Thorne Moors, and has never visited the site, will not be aware of the importance of the area. Thorne Moors is the largest area of raised bog in England, covering an area of 1911 hectares. The Moors have been designated a Special Protected Area and a Special Area of Conservation. Thorne Moors are also a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Thorne Moors would have been destroyed by the Horticulture industry for compost if it were not for the campaigning started by Thorne naturalist William Bunting.
The site contains an array of habitats from peat bog, lagoons, waterlogged ditches, heath, tracks, scrub and woodland. This in turn attracts an enormous range of wildlife species, many of which are rare.
Much has been written about Thorne Moors and the wildlife that live on and visit the site. Recording and studying the wildlife and habitats of Thorne Moors is on-going by both amateur and professional naturalists. Most visitors to Thorne Moors venture no further than the Southern Canals area. There is so much more to explore and see.
As Peter Skidmore once said, “the wildlife of Thorne Moors is exceptional, but you have to work for it.”
The following is the result of casual observations made during a series of visits by me, a non-birder. The list contains the records of birds which I consider un-common on the Moors.
Bittern, 8 records, single bird booming on most occasions. On March 19th 2020 two birds were calling.
Short Eared Owl, 22 records, mostly at dusk.
Pintail, 4 records, usually a coastal species.
Merlin, 7 records, our smallest falcon inhabiting moorland, marshland and coastal areas.
Turtle Dove, 5 records, mixed habitats and sadly, now decreasing in numbers.
Avocet, 1 record, not so many years ago this species was a rare sight in the UK, now becoming more widespread.
Water Pipit,2 records, an uncommon Winter visitor.
Little Egret, 3 records, once uncommon in the UK, now seen frequently.
Red Footed Falcon, 3 records, a rare visitor to the UK
Common Scoter, 1 record, mainly a coastal species.
Whinchat, 1 record, mixed habitats.
Raven, 1 record, becoming more common.
Red Breasted Merganser, 2 records, not common in the area.
Montagu’s Harrier, 2 records, an uncommon species.
Wheatear, 5 records, mixed habitats, a Summer visitor and sometimes seen on passage.
Red Kite, 4 records, once nearly extinct but now widespread due to introductions.
Bearded Tit, 9 records, although fairly common not easily seen among reed-beds.
Black Necked Grebe, 6 records, inhabits shallow water. Has bred here.
Cetti’s Warbler, 32 records. Once a rare visitor to the area, now becoming fairly common. This bird is more often heard than seen, with its loud call coming from the depths of bushes.
Common Crane, many records from the site. A few years ago this species was introduced into East Anglia, but these local birds were not introduced. Their trumpeting call can be heard from a great distance.
Marsh Harrier, seen on most visits. Inhabits marshes with reed beds, and usually hunts low and then swoops on prey.
Hobby, many sightings from mid-Spring until Autumn. A good vantage point to watch Hobby’s hunting is from the viewing platform on the Moors. A dead Hobby was found on 18/5/2017. Cause of death unknown.
Hen Harrier, a much persecuted bird. Frequents heather moorland, mainly an upland species.
Barn Owl, usually seen at dusk, hunting low.
Ian
Thorne Moors Bird Records.
Bittern, heard booming. Recorded with Martin Warne.
6/1/2016.
13/4/2016.
20/4/2016.
27/4/2016.
28/4/2016.
5/4/2018.
11/4/2018.
19/3/2020 x 2.
Short Eared Owl.
Recorded with Martin Warne and Helen Kirk.
23/2/2016
16/3/2016.
22/3/2016.
13/4/2016.
20/4/2016.
1/11/2017.
7/3/2018
22/3/2018.
5/4/2018.
21/2/2019.
27/2/2019.
21/3/2019.
27/3/2019.
15/10/2019.
31/10/2019.
13/11/2019.
19/11/2019.
26/11/2019.
28/11/2019.
5/12/2019.
12/2/2020.
3/3/2020.
Pintail.
28/11/2018.
23/1/2019.
11/12/2019.
2/1/2020.
Merlin.
Recorded with Martin Warne.
23/2/2016.
12/10/2016.
26/12/2018.
28/3/2019.
21/1/2020.
17/3/2020.
22/9/2020.
Turtle Dove.
21/6/2017.
13/6/2018.
8/8/2019.
3/9/2019.
30/6/2020.
Avocet.
16/6/2020.
Water Pipit.
10/3/2020.
12/3/2020.
Little Egret.
Recorded with Martin Warne.
3/9/2019.
30/6/2020.
6/8/2020 x 2.
Red Footed Falcon.
Birds pointed out by birders on site.
12/5/2016.
3/5/2017.
1/5/2019.
Common Scoter.
22/10/2016 x 2.
Whinchat.
3/9/2019.
Raven.
Seen with Helen Kirk.
3/4/2019 x2
Red Breasted Merganser.
26/12/2018. 1 Female.
22/10/2019.
Montague’s Harrier.
3/5/2018.
27/8/2019, juvenile pointed out by Martin Warne.
Wheatear.
28/4/2016.
5/5/2016 x2.
17/8/2016.
31/8/2016.
3/9/2019.
Red Kite.
3/9/2019.
5/3/2020.
14/7/2020.
16/7/2020.
Bearded Tit.
23/1/2019.
30/1/2019.
20/3/2019.
17/10/2019.
31/10/2019.
13/11/2019.
20/2/2020.
3/3/2020.
19/3/2020.
Black Necked Grebe.
3/6/2018.
3/4/2019.
24/4/2019.
1/5/2019.
15/5/2019.
29/5/2019.
Cetti’s Warbler.
16/12/2015.
6/1/2016.
16/3/2017.
3/5/2017.
18/5/2017.
21/6/2017.
6/9/2017.
25/10/2017.
11/1/2018.
7/3/2018.
18/4/2018.
3/5/2018.
31/5/2018.
13/6/2018.
20/6/2018.
3/10/2018.
17/10/2018.
23/1/2019.
6/3/2019.
21/3/2019.
27/3/2019.
28/3/2019.
4/4/2019.
24/4/2019.
2/5/2019.
27/5/2019.
23/7/2019.
8/8/2019.
26/9/2019.
17/10/2019.
22/10/2019.
31/10/2019.
Common Crane.
Cranes were either seen or heard on many visits.
Marsh Harrier.
Marsh Harriers are frequently seen on site.
Hobby.
Seen from Spring to early Autumn all years.
Hen Harrier.
Sightings from October 2016 to February 2020.
Barn Owl.
13/11/2019.
19/11/2019.
26/11/2019.
28/11/2019.
23/12/2019.
21/1/2020.
12/2/2020.
18/2/2020.
3/3/2020.
26 February 2025
I was looking at The Naturalist, the YNU publication, issue Vol. 145, no. 1104, August 2020. In a paper by Martin Limbert and Tim Melling, it was discussing the return of Avocets to the UK.
It reminded me of when I saw Avocets breeding at Huggin Carr sand and gravel quarry near Hatfield Moor. I was told that Avocets were there and walked along the Bridleway from Boston Park farm. I could not see the birds so I decided to approach the quarry from the other side.
The site was being developed into a lakeside lodge area. I spoke to the person in charge and was given access to look at the Avocets. They were on a low island quite a way from the shore. I think there were six pairs but I,m not certain. I did not keep any records. Some of the Avocets were sitting down, on eggs?
I visited the site between 26/5/2012 and 4/6/2012. I noticed a number of chicks walking along the far edge of the island. Sometimes the chicks were with an adult, at other times they were on their own. There were Black-headed Gulls flying around and I thought the chicks would be attacked but the gulls ignored them.
I have just looked at the site using Bing Maps and it looks like the island has been removed or landscaped. Image 3159 shows some of the Avocets. Image 3021a shows an adult with two chicks and image 3188 shows an adult.
I thought this might be of interest to the members.
Ian.
