Durham Bird Club at 50
The county avifauna, The Birds of Durham (Bowey and Newsome, 2012) records that “A public meeting in late 1974 at Sunderland Museum and Art Gallery to discuss bird watching and recording was well-attended. This was followed on 8 January 1975 by another meeting and enrolment for membership of the Durham Bird Club began shortly afterwards.”
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We shall be organising various projects and events during the year to commemorate this special anniversary. These include a "Bird of the Week" feature, appearing below.
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Bird of the Week - Week 32
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Reed Warbler – The Voice in the Reeds
​​(Photo by Mark Harper)​​​
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You often hear a Reed Warbler before you see one. A steady, rhythmic chatter drifts out from the reedbeds, the bird itself hidden somewhere in the swaying stems. Patient watching is rewarded with a glimpse of a slim, warm-brown bird, tail flicking, moving with ease among the vertical stems.
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Their song can be confused with that of the Sedge Warbler, but there’s a tell-tale difference – the Reed Warbler keeps to a measured rhythm, whereas the Sedge Warbler’s notes are more random, eclectic, and peppered with mimicry. Once you’ve tuned in, it’s a distinction you won’t forget.
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Reed Warblers are summer visitors, arriving from sub-Saharan Africa to breed in reedbeds and tall, waterside vegetation. In County Durham, they’re a regular feature at places like Rainton Meadows, Low Barns, Saltholme, Boldon Flats, and along quieter stretches of the River Wear and Tees, wherever reeds predominate. They’re masters of staying out of sight, but their persistence in song makes them far from invisible.
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Their nests are beautiful pieces of engineering – neat, deep cups woven between reed stems, secure enough to withstand the sway of summer winds. Sometimes, they even raise a Cuckoo chick – a reminder of one of nature’s most famous and surprising partnerships.
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By late summer, adults and fledged young feed actively among the reeds, putting on weight for their southward migration. Watch closely, and you may spot the subtle differences between young birds and their more richly coloured parents.
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Have you tried tracking down a singing Reed Warbler this year, or found yourself amazed at just how close they can be without you seeing them?​
More information on ​Reed Warblers​
Arrival and expansion in County Durham
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E-mail: admin@durhambirdclub.org.uk
Social media tags: #DBC #DBCat50 #DurhamBirdClub #BirdOfTheWeek
#Durham #Birding #BirdwatchingUK #CountyDurhamBirds
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