Bishop Middleham

This reserve is considered to be one of the country’s most important disused quarry habitats for wildlife and has been designated as a SSSI since 1968.It gained notoriety in 2002 when a pair of European Bee-eater nested here raising two young...

Bollihope Burn area

An outstanding area of fast flowing streams, disused quarry workings and moorland lying between Stanhope and Barnard Castle.....

Castle Eden Dene

Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve (NNR) is heavily wooded with ash, elm, oak and sycamore, with stands of yew and alder.......

Cow Green Reservoir

A wildly remote moorland location at the head of the River Tees. Red grouse thrive along with waders such as golden plover. Offers a birdwatching contrast to nearby Langdon Common.

Derwent Gorge / Muggleswick

Ancient broadleaved woodland that have largely disappeared in north-east England, straddle the beautiful River Derwent.

Derwent Reservoir

One of the largest inland waters in England, Derwent reservoir lies between the borders of County Durham & Northumberland.

Hamsterley Forest

A wonderful variety of woodland habitats with moorland to the north boundary, and open farmland to it's east and south. Siskin, crossbill, red squirrel but best of all nightjars !

Hayberries Nature Reserve

Hayberries Nature Reserve

Hayberries is a reclaimed sand and gravel quarry which is now a haven for wildlife. Parts of the quarry cliffs have been retained and put to good use by a colony of sand martins which arrive from Africa at the end of March.

Grassholme reservoir area

An area of reservoirs, fast flowing streams, moorland and forestry provide excellent habitat for County Durham's rich variety of upland birds....

Langdon Common

This site is probably one of the best known leks in Britain. However, birders should take special care when viewing the birds. Because of the nature of the landscape, it is almost impossible to get close to Black Grouse without disturbing them.

Low Barns

Low Barns Nature Reserve is near Witton-le-Wear village and borders on the River Wear. It covers 50 hectares and is a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) providing a wide range of habitats including grassland, scrub, woodland and a large lake with islands

Rookhope Burn & moorlands

The moorlands of Durham are alive in spring with breeding waders, grouse and rare birds of prey. Browse this section for some of the best areas.

Stanhope Moor

Wonderful and remote, the moorlands to the north of Stanhope are alive in springtime with breeding waders and grouse and are one of the best places to catch a glimpse of Britain's smallest bird of prey , the merlin.

Tunstall reservoir

Tunstall Reservoir supports a small number of breeding great crested grebe, tufted duck, goosander, moorhen, coot, mallard and common sandpiper. Oystercatcher, redshank and lapwing sometimes roost on the dam....

Waldridge Fell

Waldridge Fell is of importance as the only major area of lowland heath in County Durham. It includes range of heathland, grassland, wetland and woodland habitats, several of which are rare or absent in the rest of the County. Waldridge Fell is close to the town of Chester-le-Street, about 5 miles from Durham City Centre.

DURHAM


Browse a range of New and used Avifauna for the English county of Durham.


Also you may wish to view a wide selection of suitable field guides  by

clicking here


 The Birds of Durham

This county avifauna is the result of five years of hard work from a dedicated team of editors and contributors under the auspices of the Durham Bird Club. There are five introductory chapters, but most of the book (865 pages) is taken up by the systematic list. Each species account begins with a concise statement of current status and a small vignette.

A Summer Atlas of the Breeding Birds of County Durham

For the general reader it is hoped that this atlas provides an insight into the distribution of the County's breeding birds and how they relate to the geography and habitats of the area. For the ornithologist it is hoped that the book provides a first serious attempt, at the local level, to accurately map the distribution of the County's breeding birds and, alongside this, attempt to quantify their breeding populations using the best information to hand at the present time.

Where to watch birds in Durham

  • Publisher : Durham Bird Club; 1st edition (1 Jan. 1992)
  • Paperback : 73 pages
  • ISBN-10 : 1874701008
  • ISBN-13 : 
  • 978-1874701002

Natural History of Northumberland and Durham

271pp.Hardback with black-and-white photographs with illustrations from Thomas Bewick's famous works Quadrupeds, History of British Birds and History of British Fishes.

Birds of Gateshead

  • ASIN : 095211870X
  • Language : English
  • Formerly part of Durham County

Where to Watch Birds in Northeast England: Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Durham and Cleveland

This provides information on birdwatching sites in Cleveland, Durham, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, detailing the major and minor sites for each county, and a listing of the birds to be found throughout the year.

Birds in Durham 2002 and 2003

  • ASIN : B00793OOYO
  • Publisher : Durham Bird Club (1 Jan. 2007)
  • Paperback : 
  • 156 pages

Best Birdwatching Sites: North-East England

This latest addition to the Best Birdwatching Sites series is the largest yet produced, reflecting the wealth of birding riches uncovered by author Brian Unwin in all parts of Northumberland, Co Durham and Cleveland. Readers will find details of renowned sites such as the Farne Islands, Lindisfarne and the RSPB's exciting new Saltholme reserve, but Brian also enthuses about many exciting bird walks in inland Co Durham and Northumberland as well as coastal migrant hotspots and the former industrial sites now becoming havens for nature.

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