Country Notes for May 2022
Those who know me well will know that I’m not a ‘morning person’, so the thought of getting up at 3.30am to hear the dawn chorus might seem rather a tall order. However, that is exactly what some of us will be doing in the Meadows on the first Bank Holiday of May.
There are some birds, of course, that call through the night – and not just owls! Robins can be heard at times, as can blackbirds. Frequently this is because of a nearby light or because they have been disturbed. However, this is not always the case. The most likely at this time of year is, of course, the nightingale. I am fairly certain that they nest in our village, although the exact locations seem to vary from year to year. A few years ago they possibly nested in the Meadows Trust, although last year they did not make an appearance there at all. They are a relatively unassuming brown colour – but their call is glorious. Once heard, never forgotten!
It is certainly true that with the very first glimmers of light the dawn chorus will begin. It seems as if each bird, as it joins in, is vying to be the loudest. It is a spectacular sound but one which has become a lot quieter by the time most of us rise in the morning.
If the thought of standing in a field at 4.00am in the morning is not quite to your taste there is an alternative. Set your alarm and leave your bedroom window open. You will be very glad that you did!
However, should you quite like the idea of standing in a field with someone who can explain which calls are which, there may just be a few tickets available from the village shop.
I can’t wait – although I will have a lie in the following morning!
Andrew Snowdon