Dawn Chorus 2023 with Friends of Hillhouse Wood
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.
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Spring Flower Dilemma
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.
Mown Away
I had done some preparatory scouting, so knew what the first flowers to talk about would be. Unfortunately I had not allowed for the churchyard mower man arriving to tidy up the area that lunchtime. He took out virtually all of these first flowers, just before the walk was due to start. But that’s show biz!
The track down the side of the church always has a good range of flowers, each with a story to tell. Particularly impressive this year was the May blossom, the hedges looked as if they had been frosted with icing sugar. Out in full bloom were three plum trees, by the old hurdle maker’s cottage. They provided a lovely contrast to the May blossom, with their delicate white petals.
Hidden
Further down the track, with help from Linda Firmin, we found some tiny wild Pansies, hidden by the side. It’s difficult to believe that these tiny white and yellow flowers are related to the striking colours we have in our gardens. While there, one of the more alert members of the group pointed skywards, where three Buzzards were soaring overhead together.
Into the wood
Entering the wood, the area around the top pond usually provides a selection of interesting flowers; this year was no exception. There were plenty of Ground ivy, a few Violets hidden among the grass, remnant Wood anemones, a scattering of the graceful Lady’s smock, Dog’s mercury, some nice clusters of Primroses, Marsh marigolds around the edge of the pond, and just a few spikes of Early purple orchid. Linda triumphed again, in finding a clump of Goldilocks buttercups, a species that had been absent for several years.
Wild garlic coming into flower
We went on down the hill to view the Ramsons (Wild Garlic), which were also just coming into flower. Walking alongside the stream, the Bluebells were just starting to open, sheltered as they are under the Hazel coppice. The working party efforts in opening up the canopy has made a difference.
We then walked back up the slope, stopping to listen to a newly arrived singing Blackcap, and through the clearing created by the ’87 hurricane’. The on to the path that crosses over a stream on a causeway. This is where two specialities of the wood can be found – the Alternate leaved Golden saxifrage (not quite as spectacular looking as its name might suggest!) and the diminutive, unique and weird Moschatel.
Oops
Whilst there, I identified a bird calling loudly and close by as a singing Song Thrush. Which was a shame, because it was actually a Nuthatch – and there were witnesses. This bird then provided all members of the group with excellent views, as it ran up, down and along the bare branches of a nearby tree – calling all the time. I suspect that it was laughing at me.
From this spot we walked through the wood towards the newly installed ‘Rolls Royce’ board walk near the ‘old dairy farm’ entrance. On the way we spotted some tiny Wild strawberries in flower by the path, plus a much reduced area of Wood sorrel. Let’s hope that this is a dip for just one year. In total we saw 27 different species in flower, which I thought was quite respectable for this unassuming part of the countryside.
Guided Bird Walks in Essex
The Essex Bird Watching Society is organising 19 bird walks between the 5th – 8th of May. One of them being the Friends of Hillhouse Wood’s Dawn Chorus 2023 walk. The full list is as follows:
Friday 5th May
- 6.30am BACKWARDEN/DANBURY COMMON with Neil Sumner – 2.5hrs
Meet in the Backwarden car park (CM3 4EP) - 9.00am THE NAZE with Steve Grimwade & Matt Turner – 3hrs
Meet in The Naze car park (CO14 8LE – parking charges apply) - 1.00pm HOLLAND HAVEN with Steve Grimwade & Matt Turner – 3hrs
Meet in Holland Haven car park (CO15 5TZ – parking charges apply)
Saturday 6th May
- 03.45am DAWN CHORUS AT HILLHOUSE WOOD with Steve Hallam – 2.25hrs
Meet by St Mary’s Old Church, Hall Road, West Bergholt (CO6 3DU) - 9.00am FISHERS GREEN with Mel Shepherd-Wells – 3hrs
Meet in Fishers Green carpark (EN9 2EF – parking charges apply) - 9.30am RSPB RAINHAM MARSHES FOR AGES 12 – 21 with Ben Rumsby – 3hrs Under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult. Meet in RSPB car park (RM19 1SZ – charges apply for non-RSPB members)
- 9.30am ABBERTON RESERVOIR with Steve Grimwade & Matt Turner – 3hrs Meet in EWT Visitor Centre car park (CO2 0EU – charges apply for non-EWT members)
- 10:00am EWT HANNINGFIELD RESERVOIR with Gerry Johnson – 3hrs
Meet in EWT Visitor Centre (CM11 1WT – charges apply for non-EWT members) - 2.00pm RSPB RAINHAM MARSHES with Steve Grimwade & Matt Turner – 2.5hrs
Meet in RSPB car park (RM19 1SZ – charges apply for non-RSPB members)
Sunday 7th May
- 4.30am DAWN CHORUS AT EWT FINGRINGHOE WICK with Steve Grimwade – 3hrs
(CO5 7DN – charges apply, contact centre to book) - 5:00am DAWN CHORUS AT EWT WRABNESS with Mark Nowers & Matt Turner – 3hrs.
Meet in EWT carpark (CO11 2TD) - 9:00am HEYBRIDGE PITS with Simon Wood – 3hrs.Meet in the Daisy Meadow car park (CM9 4RW – parking charges apply)
- 9:30am RSPB BOWERS MARSH with Neil Sumner – 2.5hrs. Meet in the RSPB car park (SS13 2HG)
- 10.00am & 1.30pm EWT FINGRINGHOE WICK with Steve Grimwade & Matt Turner – 2.5hrs
Meet at EWT Visitor Centre (CO5 7DN – charges apply for non-EWT members)
Monday 8th May
- 7:00am DAWN CHORUS AT HOCKLEY WOODS with Steve Grimwade & Matt Turner – 2hrs
Meet in the Hockley Woods car park (SS5 4RQ – car parking charges apply) - 7:00am DAWN SEA & MIGRATION WATCH AT FRINTON-ON-SEA with Paul Brayshaw – 2.5hrs
Meet at the Esplanade Shelter (CO13 9DN) - 9.00am WANSTEAD FLATS with Mel Shepherd-Wells – 3hrs. Meet in Centre Road carpark (E7 0BF)
- 9.30am RSPB WALLASEA ISLAND with Matt Turner & Steve Grimwade – 3hrs.
Meet in RSPB car park (SS4 2HD) - 1.30pm TWO TREE ISLAND with Steve Grimwade & Matt Turner – 2.5hrs
Meet in Boat Slipway carpark (SS9 2GB)