THE STATUS OF GOLDEN PLOVER PLUVIALIS APRICARIA IN THE SOUTH PENNINES

The current breeding status of the Golden Plover in the south Pennines of England is described using data drawn from a survey conducted in 1 990. An estimated 736 pairs bred in the Pennines to the south of Skipt on in Yorkshire at an overall density of 1.02 pairs/km(2) and, in 'occ upied squares', of 2.22 pairs/km(2). Comparisons with published quanti tative data indicate that there has been little change within the stud y area in the distribution of Golden Plover since the late 1960s. Rela tive abundance in various parts of the Peak District National Park app ears not to have changed during the same period. Comparisons of absolu te abundance suggest significant increases in the extreme south-east o f the study area, and perhaps in the Forest of Trawden.