Durham's Nature and Wildlife Calendar 

Let us help you to experience the very best of Durham's great outdoors with this handy nature and wildlife calendar.

January and February
Take your binoculars to Selset Reservoir in Teesdale in the Durham Dales and watch the mallard and teal residents.

March
Neighbouring Grassholme Reservoir is good for spotting black headed gulls.

Boxing Hares...
For a "mad March hare moment" the picture-perfect fields near Ettersgill in Upper Teesdale in the Durham Dales are occasionally the scene for madcap antics by brown hares. Male and female hares can sometimes be seen 'boxing' with each other during early spring time in an unusual mating ritual.

April 
Watch out for new arrivals at local farm attractions, such as award-winning Hall Hill Farm and Durham's newest family attraction - Adventure Valley. Those newborn lambs will delight everyone.

May
With luck, a pair of binoculars and some patience, you may be lucky enough to spot Black Grouse lekking in the Langdon Beck area of Upper Teesdale in the Durham Dales. The lek is the mating display performed by the male birds at this time of year.

June and July 
The hay meadows of the Durham Dales are beginning to come into their own. Seek out hay meadows at Ireshopeburn in Weardale and Hury Reservoir and Baldersdale in Teesdale and delight in their beauty.

Leaping Salmon...
In the green lush heart of Durham City the River Wear provides an important habitat for all sorts of animals and birds. Salmon can be seen leaping their way upriver during the annual salmon run with peak times for sightings from mid-summer into early autumn. Prebends Bridge, Framwellgate Bridge or Elvet Bridge provide a bird's eye view, or walk at water level along the riverside path. Either way, you will need keen eyes and a good reaction to spot this 'king of the fish' as it leaps and then 'plops' quickly back into the deep water. And it is not just salmon - the River Wear is also now the most important sea trout river in England.  

Durham Heritage Coast...
Once famous for its industries, the Durham Heritage Coast is now a thriving habitat for flora and fauna. Stride out along the beautiful Magnesian Limestone grasslands which, in high summer of June and July, create a mosaic of colours. Enjoy the lovely and intriguingly named Bloody Cranesbill, Red Fescue, Downy Oat-grasses and, much more rare, look out for special orchids and the lovely Grass of Parnassus.

August and September
The heather moorlands of the Durham Dales are coming into bloom in late August and a purple haze begins to creep over the landscape. Keep a look out for the grouse flying low and fast across its habitat.

October and November
The trees of Hamsterley Forest and along the riverbanks in Durham City begin to wear their autumn colours. It’s Mother Nature’s last big show of the season. Join a guided walk in Hamsterley to find out the secrets of the forest.

Rutting season...
Raby Castle deer park echoes to the sound of Red Deer stags in the rutting season.

December
Be a nature detective and trace animal tracks in the snow. Whether urban or countryside, those tracks are everywhere when you take a close look.  

NB:  Mother Nature can be fickle and the calendar above should be regarded only as a guide.