A wildlife charity's staff spent sunrise this week surveying birds on a North-East nature reserve.

Workers and volunteers at Northumberland Wildlife Trust's Whitelee Moor reserve near Byrness, made 405 sightings of birds, including first-time recorded Crossbills on the site.

The survey is conducted annually to better plan future management of the 1,500-hectare site, known for its blanket bog, heather moorland, plus its rough and acid grasslands.

A European special area for conservation, the reserve is home to species like red grouse, merlins, buzzards, peregrine falcons, and hen harriers.

Habitat diversity is expanded by the River Rede and its tributaries, supporting other wildlife including otters, common lizards, and palmate newts.

Estates officer, Geoff Dobbins, said: "Every year it's an incredibly early start to get to Whitelee Moor for the bird survey, but it's certainly worth it.

"To record the wonderful array of birds and other wildlife on this internationally recognised site and will help with our future plans.

"Peatlands, such Whitelee Moor, have the power to help lock up carbon, alleviate flooding, help wildlife recover and are central to our ability to address the climate crises, so it’s vitally important that we walk around the site to conduct our surveys."