Dawn Chorus can reward an early start

Blackcap singingDawn Chorus can reward an early start

It might be an early start but the Dawn Chorus can truly deliver its own reward.  Once again Steve Hallam will be leading the Dawn Chorus Walk around Hillhouse Wood, offering the chance to see and/or hear nightingales and many other brilliant dawn choristers like the Blackcap (see right).

Previous years’ walks have seen and/or heard over 20 species, for example, in 2013 the following list was collected:

  • Tawny Owl.
  • Whitethroat.
  • Robin.
  • Nightingale.
  • Blackbird.
  • Wren.
  • Pheasant.
  • Rook.
  • Wood Pigeon.
  • Blackcap.
  • Blue Tit.
  • Chaffinch.
  • Canada Goose.
  • Chiffchaff.
  • Goldcrest.
  • Mallard.
  • Jackdaw.
  • Great Tit.
  • Buzzard.
  • Green Woodpecker.
  • Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

The walk will start from the Old Church at 3:45 am on Saturday 19th May.  You should bring warm clothing, stout footwear, a flask of hot drink and a torch – please note that the walk will only go ahead weather permitting.

If you haven’t been on one of these walks before you will find it a rewarding and delightful experience at a very special time for the wood’s varied wildlife; if you would like to know more then check out this report from the 2013 dawn chorus walk.

Other useful links are:

 Woodland Trust  Colchester Natural History Society Essex Wildlife Trust

Skip to content