Bird of the Week: Robin

Robins are in full voice now, defending winter territories. That soft song carries far on cold days.
Have you noticed one following you or singing nearby?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #dbc #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week: Barn Owls are a quiet but regular presence across Durham’s rough grass margins and farmland.

Seen one quartering a field at dusk this week?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #BarnOwl #WinterBirds #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week: Long-tailed Tits bring winter cheer as lively family flocks sweep through hedgerows & gardens.

Heard their soft “tsee-tsee-tsee” calls yet?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #WinterBirds #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week: Grey Partridge

Coveys are gathering now across the county, especially where there are good margins, stubbles and beetle banks.

Heard that sharp “kerr-ick” or seen a covey slip along a hedgerow yet?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #DurhamBirdClub #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week: Teal are gathering again on Durham’s winter wetlands. Sites like Castle Lake and the Teesmouth marshes.

Have you seen them in numbers yet?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #WinterBirds #Wildfowl #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week: Starlings are gathering over Durham’s lowland carrs, early signs of winter murmurations. Seen one forming yet?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #DBC #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #WinterBirds #Murmuration #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week: Listen for Pink-footed Geese over Durham – their wild “wink-wink” calls mark autumn skies.

Heard them passing over yet?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #DBC #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week: Fieldfares are back across Durham, their “chack-chack-chack” calls marking winter’s arrival.

Seen your first flock yet?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #DBC #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #Fieldfare #WinterBirds #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week: Redshank bring life to Durham’s wetlands with their bright legs & loud “teu-teu-teu” calls.

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #DBC #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham

Bird of the Week: Snipe often stay hidden in reeds till, with a sudden whirr, they burst from cover.

Seen any at your local wetland this week?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #DBC #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #AutumnBirding #BirdMigration #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week: Are Goldcrests arriving in numbers after Storm Amy - fresh in from Scandinavia?

Heard their high “see-see-see” calls yet?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #DBC #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #AutumnMigration #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week: Common Sandpipers bob along Durham’s rivers & reservoirs, their “wee-wee-wee” call sharp in flight.

Have you seen one lately?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #DBC #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #birdmigration #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week: Wheatears are on the move across Durham’s coasts & uplands. Have you seen any of these bold little travellers pausing on passage?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #DBC #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #Migration #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week: Swallows are flocking across Durham, gathering on wires & reedbeds ahead of their long journey south.

Where have you seen big gatherings?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week: Greenshank – elegant waders on passage through Durham.

Seen one yet among this week’s flurry of waders?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #Waders #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the week: Spotted Flycat her. Have you noticed Spotted Flycatchers near you this year – perhaps in new places, or nesting somewhere unexpected?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the week - Common Tern. These fiesty fishers have been hard hit by bird flu in recent years - how do you feel they've done this year in (Old) County Durham?

Photo: Mark Harper

#DBCat50 #DBC #DurhamBirdClub #birding #durham #rspbsaltholme #wwtwashington #dwtshibdonpond

Bird of the week: Reed Warblers chatter from reedbeds in steady rhythm, unlike the Sedge’s random song.

Heard one this summer?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Birding #BirdwatchingUK #Durham #DBC

Bird of the week 31 - House Martin - preparing to leave.

Our dainty, feather footed, white rumped visitor are starting to gather for their autumn journey.

Have you heard their twittering?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBC #DBCat50 #durhambirdclub #durham #birding

Bird of the Week: Little Ringed Plovers are back on Durham’s gravel shores - bright-eyed & full of attitude

Seen any this year?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Birding #BirdwatchingUK #WetlandBirds

Bird of the Week: Sleek & acrobatic, Hobbies are turning-up more and more in Durham?

Seen one over your patch yet?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

(Map: Steve Evans)

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Bird of the Week: Meadow Pipits are everywhere (aren't they?), moor, coast & pasture, parachuting through summer with their soft song.

Seen one lately?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #MeadowPipit #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week - Grey Wagtails bring a flash of yellow to Durham’s rivers, becks & burns - acrobatic, elegant, and never still.

Seen one lately?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #GreyWagtail #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week: Red Kites are now starting to be seen well beyond the Derwent Valley.

Have you spotted one soaring near you?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #RedKite #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week: Tree Sparrows remain regular across lowland Durham farmland & reserves.

Heard their chirruping calls this spring?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #DBC #Birding #BirdwatchingUK #FarmlandBird

Bird of the Week: Tree Pipits are parachuting through our upland glades, scrub and woodland margins, in full song.

Seen or heard one yet?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #Birding #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the Week 23: Unmistakably yellow, the Yellowhammer’s distinctive song still wheezes from some of our Durham hedgerows

Heard one lately?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #Yellowhammer #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Birding #BirdwatchingUK #FarmlandBirds

Bird of the week: Cuckoo - still calling over Durham’s uplands.

Have you heard one yet? Seen one? Or a host feeding a chick?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Birding #Durham

Bird of the week: Corn Buntings hang on in parts of east Durham farmland.

Still hearing that jangling song near you?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #DBC #Durham #CornBunting #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Birding #SpringBirds #BirdwatchingUK

Bird of the week 20: Whitethroats are back - full of scratchy song & bouncy flight along Durham’s hedgerows.

Noticed any yet?

(Photo: Mark Harper)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #SpringMigration #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Durham #Birding #BirdwatchingUK