BIRD hides have been built by Northumbrian Water at two of its reservoirs in the North-East.

The company has spent £12,000 on hides at Kielder Water and Whittle Dene Reservoir, both in Northumberland.

The Kielder facility is especially good for spotting the red squirrel, as it looks over a feeding station, and visitors may see deer too.

A wide range of birds can also be seen, including nuthatch, woodpecker, chaffinch and blue tits, coal tits and great tits.

Whittle Dene Reservoir, near Hadrian's Wall, offers views of seasonal visitors including swallows and swifts, yellow wagtails and the rarer white wagtail.

Spring migration often sees black-necked grebe, garganey and marsh harrier.

Osprey and Temminck's stint also visit.

Northumbrian Water has eight bird hides in its supply area, from Berwick down to North Yorkshire, and across to the Pennines.