North Northumberland Bird Club

History ad aims of the NNBC

The North Northumberland Bird Club was set up in 1984, by a group of local enthusiasts who recognised and responded to the need for a local bird club in this, the richest (bird-wise) part of Northumberland.

Its popularity and membership have grown steadily, and there are now over 250 members from 165 families. They range in expertise from beginners to very knowledgable ornithologists.

The NNBC is managed and co-ordinated by the Committee which is elected by the members. Committee members organise the indoor meetings, field trips, edit the Newsletter, keep the bird sightings records and are involved in a number of other activities and projects on behalf of the club.

The club has five aims:

To provide entertainment and instruction on the theme of wild birds

To increase our knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of them
To enable like-minded people to meet one another and share their interest
To record and publish local bird observations from members
To support conservation projects and surveys

Area Covered by the NNBC

The bird recording area extends approximately from the Tweed on the Scottish border south to Amble and from Rothbury in the west to the east coast. All records of bird sightings sent in by members are published in the newsletter and also sent to the County Recorder. The County Recorder network across the UK is co-ordinated by the BTO

Our members and visitors to meetings come from a much wider area - from St. Abbs and Duns in the north, and south to Newcastle, Durham and even Surrey and Kent!

Ring Ouzel - Emblem of the NNBC

Photo by John Wilson.

No bird symbolises the wild uplands of North Northumberland more than the Ring Ouzel, and it is also a typical migrant along the coast. In 1984 a Thomas Bewick engraving of this bird was chosen for our Club logo. Bewick (1753-1828) was a local wood engraver of wide acclaim, and the Ring Ouzel is one of his most natural-looking engravings, and its clear, sharp outline makes a distinctive and appropriate symbol for our Club. Graham Bell.