Birdsong

 I went on a dawn walk this morning. 
A first for me.
I saw it advertised in Holywell when I popped into Tesco
“ Dawn Walk With A Twitcher - birdsong explained”
The meeting place was in Caerwys before 5 am 
I was the last to arrive.
There was ten of us, all told, led by a quietly spoken man in his sixties called Eifion.
We were led down a bridle path by torch light and from time we’d stop to have a brief lecture 
It was an interesting and somewhat cold early morning
But an invigorating one
The robins and blackbirds and the more rare thrush, were the first on the performance with other birds such as wrens, wood pigeons  and warblers joining in.
The likes of the tits and the finches usually only start to sing when dawn has broken.
Apparently it is usually the male birds that call and at times the sound was amazingly loud

One woman in the group had a good cry at the experience and kept apologising for it.
I liked the feeling of being anonymous in the pre dawn gloom
And felt a little exposed when the day finally  lifted the dark to a translucent blue.

I’m off to meet a friend for lunch shortly.
They are going into hospital soon and are in need of a bit of calm
It’s sunny but still cool and I can see Islwyn pottering around the pony field fixing the gates
He’s like me. 
He likes to be needed.

53 comments:

  1. Beauty at a very-very early hour. 30+ years ago I joined a rowing group that met at before dawn like that, it is a pretty time of the day once you are awake.

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    1. In my 60 th year I’ve decided to try all sort of newexperiences

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  2. I wouldn't dare venture out so early-doggers have been spotted in the vicinity x

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    1. Anonymous8:57 pm

      What a dreadful area it must be where you live flis, the tales you tell make it sound really bad.

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    2. Flis, you do enjoy bating don’t you

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    3. Some Is bad but I think things appear from underground worryingly -Generally it's a nice area with good people and desirable by more wealthy than I nearby-I heard from a friend who lives elsewhere that she came across it when she walked her dog too x

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  3. That's wonderful. Some mornings at the lake, there is such chirping and noise, I'd swear I was at a bird arboritium.

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    1. It was a first for me and an experience I’m glad I went on

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  4. We used to do early morning bird walks with the owner of our nearby Audubon shop when we lived in Connecticut. The owner/guide was one of those people you wish you could clone. We learned so much and it was at times so blissful.

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  5. veg artist11:43 am

    I'm often awake for before dawn, and can lie in bed listening to birds in our garden and a little wood across the lane. Saves putting the walking boots on!

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    1. I’m not an early riser so it was really new to me to be still in the countryside

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  6. This morning well before dawn I was enjoying a very happy and loud male (apparently) cardinal. It's about to get rainy so I imagine he was hoping to get lucky early :)

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  7. That's funny, I never realised you were a tit man.

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  8. Anonymous12:18 pm

    It sounds like a really nice experience and I am a little envious, even though I am not enamoured by tits. (Sorry, blame Pudding man for kicking me off)

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  9. It is good to join a walk with an expert on the subject.

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  10. Early morning is the best, before most people wake up and start their noisy lives. I love watching the birds in my garden gathering nesting material. xx

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    1. I didn’t know some species have different times to call

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  11. I was whistling back at the birds on my hike yesterday! Luckily, no people were around to hear me talking to the birds! :)

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    1. I do that too, and love when they reply

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  12. Very cool birdsong walk! But this is the first time I've ever seen the word "twitcher" for a birder!

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  13. Early morning in the Spring is a lovely time for bird watching. The birds are welcoming a new season and nesting to bring on the next generation. Your guided tour sounds excellent.

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    1. He was economical in his comments but what he said had power

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  14. Bird song is beautiful as is the outdoors generally, I fly fish on unspoilt streams and often just sit and watch the wildlife , last year I shared a small river pool with an otter , very therapeutic ,

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    1. I’m not a huge outdoor person , but I loved this morning

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  15. A lovely idea. And if anyone is doing a bat walk, have a go at that too. Went on one years ago and just as fascinating

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    1. I love walking down the lane on a summers night and seeing the tiny pipistrel bats flying like quicksilver

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  16. Anonymous1:58 pm

    What a marvelous experience for each of you in the group. When I was a new nurse I worked with a much older doctor whose name was Dr. Birdsong. I wanted to ask him about his name but was too shy.
    Wishing your firiend well.
    I like to be needed, too.

    HUgs - Barbara Annee

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  17. I love spring when the birds are at their busiest looking for mates and building nests. In the 23 years we've lived in this suburban house, I've strategically planted an assortment of trees and fruit bearing shrubs that make it an inviting place for birds to settle down and start a family. I've been doing a lot of bird watching in my own backyard these days but a bird hike in the early morning with other like-minded people sounds lovely.

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    1. Sounds therapeutic as well as interesting

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  18. That sounds such an interesting thing to do....and a good start to the day.x

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    1. I’m trying to tick the boxes of things I’ve not done

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    2. I haven’t forgotten a meet

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  19. Anonymous3:56 pm

    Download the Merlin Birdsong ID app...it works and is so much fun!

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  20. That's a very special experience and one I would love to have. Not just the birdsong, but being out standing quietly at the changeover from night to dawn.

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    1. I could understand why the woman cried

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  21. Anonymous4:33 pm

    I am sure you would know exactly what to say to your friend who is going into hospital.
    Barbarax

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    1. She has a spinal injury , I know what I’m talking about x

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  22. I have a blackbird's nest in my garden and he seems to sing from dawn to dusk.

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    1. Feisty buggers blackbirds

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    2. And through the night in summertime and half the winter. I don't think they sleep.

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  23. What a lovely thing to do early in the morning. I used to love listening to the dawn chorus when I was a teenager it facinated me. I grew up surrounded by all sorts of birds. My parents owned a bird importing and exporting farm in the early 70's but I have never been out early morning just to listen to birdsong. I now feel that I have missed out.

    Jo in Auckland

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  24. That sounds like a wonderful experience. I love listening to dawn birdsong. Blackbirds always impress me with their varied repertoire.

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  25. I always think that springtime in nature is all about sex and violence.

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