Barnsley Biodiversity Action Plan. Post-15 BAP. Updated to 2023

 Biodiversity

 Action

 Plan

Birds of running and standing water

A range of bird species associated with water bodies breed in Barnsley. Of these three are Local Priority Species: Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Pochard.


The UK Water and Wetland Breeding bird populations indicator includes Coot, Dipper, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Kingfisher, Sand Martin, Mallard, Moorhen, Common Sandpiper, Tufted Duck and Grey Wagtail.

Grey Wagtail has grey upper parts but a yellow under-tail and chest, - and a long tail.


It feeds on midges and other insects near running water in upland areas and where weirs and spillways increase the flow in lowland waters.


In Barnsley there has been an increase in numbers, with  up to 80 pairs, against the trend.

Grey wagtail nests near flowing streams, in hollows, holes and crevices within rocks, tree roots or built structures.


Grey Wagtails breed from March with two to three broods.


Reasons for national declines are not known but linked to their habitat. Water quality and insect abundance are possible factors.

Grey Wagtail

BoCC5 Amber List [IUNC2 NT]

General protection W&C Act


Kingfishers, bright blue, orange birds, fly rapidly, low over water, and hunt fish from riverside perches, diving into the water!


They feed on small fish and aquatic invertebrates.


It is a scarce and localised breeding bird in Barnsley, with less than 25 breeding pairs.

Conservation measures


Habitats

Kingfishers excavate a nest burrow, up to a metre deep, in a vertical stream bank,.


2-3 broods are raised from April to August.


Threats include

Kingfisher

BoCC5 Green List prev Amber, [IUNC2 VU]

Schedule 1 W&C Act protection


Pochard: males have a bright reddish-brown head, black breast and tail and pale grey body. Females are brown with a greyish body.


Pochard is a diving duck and feeds on plant materials, snails and other aquatic invertebrates below the water's surface.


Rare as a breeding bird, and localised, there may be up to four breeding pairs in the lower Dearne Valley.

Conservation measures


Habitats

Its nest, a shallow cup of plant material lined with down, is on the ground  or on floating mats of plant material, concealed in thick vegetation.


It requires undisturbed, well vegetated water bodies and wetlands for breeding and has has just one brood.


Pochard populations have declined rapidly due perhaps to:

Pochard

UKBAP 2007 Priority Species

NERC Section 41 Species of Principal Importance

BoCC5 Red List [IUNC VU]

General protection W&C Act

Conservation measures


Habitats

Other breeding birds associated with running and standing water include:

Schedule 1, Amber: Garganey, Mediterranean Gull

Amber: Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal,  Moorhen, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern,  and Black-headed Gull, Common Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull,

Green: Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Little Egret, , Mute Swan, Sand Martin, Tufted Duck

Kingfisher Grey Wagtail Pochard

Birds of running and standing water