Tag: hillhouse wood colchester

Posted on

Steve Hallam leads Big County Birdwatch on a Dawn Walk

Once again, Steve Hallam led a successful Dawn Chorus walk through Hillhouse Wood on 6th May.  This year it was one of 19 bird walks taking place in Essex over the Coronation weekend. 

Steve Hallam reports:

Well, it looks as if I must have done the odd good thing in a previous life.  Despite the distinctly dodgy weekend weather forecast, we had a lovely morning for our 2023 Dawn Chorus walk.  Not that we could see this of course, at 03.45, but at least we knew we’d be staying dry.  A nice number of 14 people also turned out, despite the distraction of a certain Royal event later that morning.  Also different this year was that we had folded the walk into the programme of The Big County Birdwatch, organised by the Essex Birdwatching Society.  This had been moved to take place in Spring, rather than Autumn.  It was pleasing to welcome EBWS people to the walk.

Continue reading “Steve Hallam leads Big County Birdwatch on a Dawn Walk”
Posted on

Walk the Dawn Chorus 2023

Dawn Chorus 2023 with Friends of Hillhouse Wood

Swift in flight

The Dawn Chorus Walk 2023 is taking place on a busy weekend with Bird walks all across Essex. It will form part of the “Big County Birdwatch ’23” which being organised by the Essex Birdwatching Society. First, though, a report by Steve Hallam on the recent Spring Flower Walk at Hillhouse Wood.

Click here if you want to jump to the bird walks.

Spring Flower Dilemma

Bluebells

It is always a dilemma as to which date to set for the Spring Flowers walk. This is because the timing of when the various species flower can vary considerably between early and late seasons.  This year I anticipated that the season would be early – so naturally it has been late.  The solution was obvious, and so the ‘Bluebell’ walk was re-christened as a ‘Spring flowers’ one.  The forecast for the afternoon was either for sunny periods or rain showers, depending on which forecaster you looked at.  Either way, undaunted, a pleasingly large group of 22 assembled at the appointed hour and starting point. 

Continue reading “Walk the Dawn Chorus 2023”
Skip to content