THE wet summer has proved a boon to a rare moorland bird.

The dunlin, a wader that thrives on boggy ground, is loving life on Marsden Moor.

A survey, carried out by the National Trust, RSPB and local volunteers, identified 50 dunlin territories.

Despite the damp weather the survey team covered 20 sq km of moorland in a bid to assess the population.

The dunlin is a wading bird with a very distinctive call.

It spends most of its year on the coast then comes to the uplands to breed in the spring.

A survey in 2000 estimated the dunlin population across England at 400-500 pairs.

The South Pennines is a breeding ground said to support up to 10% of England’s population.

Dave O’Hara, RSPB/United Utilities’ site manager at Dove Stone, said the latest information gathered would be used to monitor future population change.

“It may be possible that dunlin can help highlight for us areas of bog that are in better and improving condition,” he said.

Local farmer Chris Crowther added: “All our work is paying off. It’s nice to see the population doing well.”