Rare birds that are on the UK's 'red list' have been spotted by keen twitchers in County Durham. 

Willow tits, which were moved onto the red list after their population declined by 94 per cent between 1970 and 2012, appear to be "thriving" in the North East. They are widely believed to be the UK's "most threatened resident bird."

Members of the Northern Echo's camera club spotted the birds whilst out and about. Chris Turner saw a number of little willow tits near Broompark picnic area, in Ushaw Moor. 

Brian Howes also pictured one of the 'red list' birds at a hide in the Chester-le-Street area. 

Brian said: "We've got a bird hide that we go to most mornings. A few nights ago we noticed a single willow tit coming in occasionally, but now it tends to wait every morning and it's not at all bothered by us. 

(Image: Chris Turner Northern Echo Camera Club) "More to the point - there's two of them that visit the hide now!"

Chris commented: "My mate and his wife regularly walk their dog on the Lanchester valley railway path, and have been feeding the birds for years, so they always know there is food. 

"We recently set up a little area in the woods with a few feeders. We usually only wait minutes for the willow tits to come, as they are used to us now. 

"The willow tits struggle in certain areas as they use old trees to nest in and the more storms we have the more old trees fall, destroying their habitats.

(Image: Brian Howes Northern Echo Camera Club)

"Thankfully, Durham has a good few breeding pairs and seem to be doing well in our area."

Willow tits are known to reside in the North East, as well as swathes of Yorkshire, the Midlands, and Wales. 

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(Image: Brian Howes Northern Echo Camera Club)

The RSBP reports that throughout the UK, it is thought that there are about 3,400 breeding pairs of the birds. 

The species is thought to be in trouble as they are quite sedentary, and will not readily travel long distances, especially across open landscapes, preferring to keep to dense scrub or hedgerows within a limited home range.

The Back from the Brink programme said: "Habitat fragmentation, loss of connective habitat such as hedgerows and reduction in quality of damp young woodland have all contributed to Willow Tit decline."

(Image: Chris Turner Northern Echo Camera Club)