Every year in early May our towns and countryside come alive as the annual spectacle of the Dawn Chorus reaches its crescendo. Migrant males returning to the UK and resident males will spend weeks singing their hearts out to defend a territory and attract the female of the species.
© Jill Pakenham / BTO
From the two-note cuckoo to the tiny wren, with its 740 notes a minute which can carry up to one third of a mile, you can hear the wonders of the Dawn Chorus by visiting a local National Trust property and joining one of the guided walks led by an expert. If you’re visiting somewhere under your own steam it’s best to pick a venue with plenty of different habitats so that you’ll have a better opportunity to hear a wider variety of songbirds.
David Bullock, Head of Nature Conservation at the National Trust, says:
'You’ll need to wake up really early to catch the Dawn Chorus - one of the marvels of the natural world. The sound of birds before the sun rises has captivated generations and it’s worth making the effort to witness the woods, countryside or your back garden fill with these beautiful notes of nature.'
Some of the birds that you may hear during a Dawn Chorus include the Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Redstart, Wood Warbler, Song Thrush, Wagtails, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting and Pied Flycatcher.
Making the most of your trip
It’s advisable to book all of the guided walks in advance as they are very popular. You’ll also need to bring some binoculars and wear stout footwear. And when you’re listening to the Dawn Chorus put your hands behind your ears so that you can make out the songs in the distance.
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Dawn Chorus highlights in 2008
© John Harding / BTO
Penrose Estate: Gunwalloe and Loe Pool, Cornwall
26 April
Join the warden on a leisurely walk to see and hear summer migrant birds on the beautiful Penrose Estate. An early start for the best chance to hear birds in full song!
- Booking not required
- Tickets cost £2
- For further information call 01326 561407
Attingham Park, Shropshire
27 April
An opportunity to enjoy a Warden-guided walk of the estate at its most tuneful, including a continental breakfast.
- Booking essential
- Tickets cost £12 and include breakfast
- For further information call 01743 708162
Lytes Cary Manor, Somerset
3 May
Let your senses be awakened this spring by the piercing melody of the dawn chorus travelling through the tranquility of the garden and estate. Be sure to look out for farmland birds from Reed Buntings to Skylarks, as well as other wildlife such as hare and deer. Round off the experience with a cooked breakfast.
- Booking essential
- Tickets cost £10 and include breakfast
- For further information call 01458 224471
To find a Dawn Chorus near you, search our online events directory.
Other great National Trust destinations to catch the early bird
© Jill Pakenham / BTO
There are plenty of great National Trust countryside properties that you can visit under your own steam to capture the wonders of the Dawn Chorus. Including Kinver Edge in Staffordshire, East Riddlesden Hall in Yorkshire, Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire, Dovedale in Derbyshire, Leigh Woods in Bristol, Rodborough Common in Gloucestershire, Shervage Woods on the Quantock, Cotehele in Cornwall, Alderley Edge in Cheshire, Formby in Lancashire, Borrowdale woods in Cumbria and Coniston in Cumbria.
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