International Dawn Chorus Day

Today is International Dawn Chorus Day, a worldwide celebration of nature’s daily miracle. And the best way to celebrate for us is an early visit to our favourite playground. We set the alarm at 6am. We woke up, looked out and it was raining. We burrowed deeper under the duvet. It was freezing too.

At 7am we woke up to bright sunshine streaming into the bedroom. We decided to celebrate the day after all. Better late than never. And I’m glad we did as we’d the best time of our life.

The swallows greeted us at the car park, looking much better and a heron flew above us. As we followed the path, we were assaulted with fantastic bird songs and sights.  We came across a robin, serenading us high up in the tree, a coot with 6 chicks swimming across the first lake and a pair of mute swans preening nearby.

We had a wonderful surprise when we saw the Great Crested Grebe nesting at her usual spot. We missed their courtship dance but we will be looking forward to their new brood. We’d to stop to let a pair of Greylags (Anser anser) walked in front of us with 5 lovely, fluffy yellow chicks in the middle.The Canada Geese were still nesting, looking a bit tattered. A female pheasant popped out to check us out.

At the hide, we sat down and observed the antics of the natives. A pair of Redshanks (Tringa totanus) were busy feeding by the mudflats, later joined by the adorable Little-ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius). The Common Tern had occupied their usual nesting island. 

Lapwings were chasing anything that come close to their nests. We saw them lashing at an Oyster Catcher, Greylags and Canada Geese.The Sand-martins were busy skimming the water, chasing each other. Coots were squabbling everywhere.  Cormorants stretching their wings worshipping the sun. Various ducks still asleep, heads tucked under their wings, oblivious to the noisy racket around them.

We walked through the woods to check the bird boxes. A Tree Creeper appeared. As we walked back, I spotted a Chaffinch and suddenly another bird appeared beneath it. Then it started to sing. Heavens, it was a Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia Cetti). A bird often heard but not seen. It’s very distinctive, rather explosive call could be heard around the reserve and I’m delighted to have seen and photographed it. 

I hoped you too had the opportunity to celebrate and appreciate nature’s daily miracle. Have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend.