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 44
Pink-footed Goose – Voices Over the Autumn Sky
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​​(Photo by Mark Harper)​​​
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Few sounds capture the spirit of the season quite like the distant, musical calls of migrating Pink-footed Geese drifting over on a cold, clear morning. Look up, and you’ll see those neat, shifting skeins high above the County, purposeful, V-shaped flocks heading south or west, their soft "wink-wink" calls carrying across the sky.
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Through October, these birds move in their thousands from Iceland and Greenland to wintering grounds in eastern England and the south of Scotland. County Durham sits right beneath one of their key flyways, so it’s worth keeping an eye (and ear) on the skies at this time of year.
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Numbers often build up along the coast and lowland wetlands – Teesmouth, Castle Lake, Hurworth Burn and the surrounding farmland can all host flocks as birds pause to feed before continuing their journey. In recent years, observers have noted that more Pinkfeet seem to be lingering for longer, sometimes staying well into winter when conditions allow.
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They’re subtle birds up close – smaller and neater than the familiar Greylag, with dark heads, short pink bills, and, of course, those pink feet. But it’s their movement and sound that really make the impression: wild voices, reminding us of the vast distances and shared skies that connect our County to places far beyond.
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Have you seen or heard Pink-footed Geese passing over your patch this week? Their calls are one of autumn’s great markers – a sure sign the seasons are turning.
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More information on Pink-footed Geese
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E-mail: admin@durhambirdclub.org.uk
Social media tags: #DBC #DBCat50 #DurhamBirdClub #BirdOfTheWeek
#Durham #Birding #BirdwatchingUK #CountyDurhamBirds
