Our intrepid group listen to chiffchaffs and robins singing.
An early start was required!
This morning, we celebrated International Dawn Chorus Day with a dawn chorus walk led by Tower Hamlets Biodiversity Officer and keen birdwatcher John Archer. To hear the best of the birdsong, we had to get an early start, setting off just after first light at 5am. As we arrived, the birds were already singing, but the only mammals that were up and about were the foxes.
The sunrise was stunning and the birds were out singing in force across the farm, announcing their presence and staking out their territories. A fairly still morning, their song carried without interference from wind and we were lucky to see and hear over twenty species. You can hear a clip of the morning chorus below:
First light across the farm.
Dawn on the big field.
As the sun rose, we heard songbirds singing at full strength and our livestock slowly waking up. As they did, our chickens and pheasants joined in the chorus, as did George the donkey, much to the amusement of all!
Robins were heard singing across the farm.
Robins were one of the most common species found singing around the farm, with their distinctive and melodious song. You can hear one singing in the clip below:
A Great Tit rests on a fence.
Great tits were also seen and heard across the farm, switching from singing to foraging once the sun had risen. You can clearly hear the “tea-cher” cry in the clip below.
You can find a full list of the species we saw and heard below, as well as more photos from our morning! To find out more about the dawn chorus, visit the International Dawn Chorus Day Website. You can also hear clips of bird song at the website of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Species List – Sunday, May 4th, 2014
| Blackbird |
Greenfinch |
Mute Swan |
| Blackcap |
Herring Gull |
Ring-necked Parakeet |
| Blue Tit |
House Sparrow |
Robin |
| Carrion Crow |
Lesser Black-backed Gull |
Song Thrush |
| Chiffchaff |
Magpie |
Wood Pigeon |
| Dunnock |
Mallard |
Wren |
| European Starling |
Mistle Thrush |
| Great Tit |
Monk Parakeet |
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Dawn breaks amid the birdsong.
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A beautiful, sunny Spring morning, perfect for birdwatching (and listening).
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Our birdwatchers spot songbirds singing from the treetops.
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The sunrise from the big field.
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The Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) is a tiny bird with a huge voice.
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Exploring the avifauna as the sun rises.
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Sunrise on the farm.
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A Magpie pauses on the fence.
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We were warned off by nesting robins.
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Our livestock hear these sounds every morning and some even joined in!
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A Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) gleans prey from the leaves.
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A young Robin (Erithacus rubecula).
