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Durham Bird Club
@durhambirdclub.bsky.social
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Durham Bird Club – Connecting People & Birds between the Tyne & the Tees since 1975

A community of bird enthusiasts, from casual watchers to seasoned ornithologists, dedicated to enjoying, protecting & learning about the birds of "old" County Durham.
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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
December 14, 2025 at 3:11 PM
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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
December 7, 2025 at 5:48 PM
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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
November 30, 2025 at 11:31 AM
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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
November 23, 2025 at 7:53 PM
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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
November 16, 2025 at 4:16 PM
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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
November 9, 2025 at 3:54 PM
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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
November 2, 2025 at 4:24 PM
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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
October 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
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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
October 19, 2025 at 10:40 AM
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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
October 12, 2025 at 5:22 PM
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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
October 5, 2025 at 4:35 PM
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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
September 21, 2025 at 5:39 PM
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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
September 14, 2025 at 5:45 PM
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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
September 7, 2025 at 7:27 PM
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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
August 31, 2025 at 2:29 PM
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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
August 24, 2025 at 8:02 PM
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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
August 18, 2025 at 12:14 AM
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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
August 10, 2025 at 6:28 PM
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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
August 3, 2025 at 6:09 PM
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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
July 27, 2025 at 2:14 PM
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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)

#DBCAt50 #BirdOfTheWeek #CountyDurhamBirds #DurhamBirdClub #Hobby #Birding #Raptors #BirdwatchingUK #Durham
July 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
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Save the date - our AGM will be at WWT Washington on 10th September at 7pm
July 15, 2025 at 7:07 PM
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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
July 13, 2025 at 8:40 PM
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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
July 6, 2025 at 10:58 AM
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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
June 29, 2025 at 12:34 PM