Corona Wildlife Diary: Day Forty-six
This week's Back Garden Bird Race will be held tomorrow, Sunday 3 May from 10-11.
Details on how to take part are on the website (here) and, if you want, you can join us live during the race on the Sussex Wildlife Trust Nature Table page.
Tomorrow is also International Dawn Chorus Day.
So, to help celebrate, I've challenged a few people to stop listening to birds tomorrow. If you want to make tomorrow's bird race more, erm, interesting, why not try blocking out all bird song by using earplugs or playing music through headphones. I think you'll realise pretty quickly how important birdsong is when you're birdwatching - whether it's helping you to identify the bird or just locate them.
You don't have to of course - but I'm curious to block out bird songs and calls for an hour to see how much it will affect my score.
I'm going to be strapping on some earphones - and I've even made a one hour long bird-inspired playlist on Spotify which you can listen to here including bird-inspired songs from The Beatles, The Kinks, Bob Marley and, erm, Teddy Johnson & Pearl Carr with their 1959 Eurovision entry (they came second). It starts with a very strange song 'Et Les Oiseaux Chantaient' by Sweet People. Check it out here. Three minutes of bird song mixed with some instrumental backing which, amazingly reached number 4 in the charts in October 1980 (where it sat between 'Baggy Trousers' by Madness and 'What You're Proposing' by Status Quo.
(The sleeve featured a Cirl Bunting which was not featured on the record. Only a minor quibble however it did ruin my enjoyment of the song somewhat)
This weekend I was was due to lead two special Dawn Chorus walks at 4am on Saturday and Sunday. These events are always fully booked and one of the highlights of my year. I don't talk for the event and just let the attendees listen and enjoy the birds (I point at my special I.D. cards to let people know who's singing). I'm sure some people come to the event just to hear me not talking for 90 minutes but I think most people are there to enjoy the incredible sound of the dawn chorus.
Greenfinch by Sophie May Lewis
Imagine if we had to do it. Imagine that first thing every morning we had to renew our claim to our property by pulling on our dressing gowns, marching out onto our doorsteps, taking a deep breath and singing a song. Sussex would awaken to an a cappella cacophony of show tunes, power ballads and rock anthems pouring from porches and patios, backyards and balconies. And if you weren’t out there, patrolling your property with a raspy rendition of ‘Hey Jude’, your neighbours would assume you’d gone and they’d muscle in. If you overslept you’d wake to find Jeanette from two doors down screeching ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ on your doorstep and you’d have to see her off with your version of ‘River Deep, Mountain High’.
Throughout May male birds are aggressively announcing their breeding territories. In the absence of bricks and barbed wire, their songs build the boundaries around their little bits of Sussex. And it’s vital they croon their songs every morning. After a day dodging cats, cars, windowpanes and Sparrowhawks these stubborn Sinatras must inform their neighbours that they’re still alive. Yet to our ears this warzone of warbles and whistles is a stirring celebration of the arrival of spring which fills our hearts with the promise of the summer to come. Bernstein, Britten, Beethoven and Brian Wilson rolled into one.
Starling by Dave Kilbey
At the first hint of dawn, in the still, silent air, this free music festival begins. And what a line-up! The sweet vocal stylings of the Robin start the show. Then, doo-be-doo-be-doo, it’s the Blackbird; the Sinatra of the dawn chorus. The symphony builds as the sun rises. We’re joined by a supergroup: CSD&G (Chaffinch, Song Thrush, Dunnock & Great Tit). Then the Blackcap joins the avian opera, the first of our international superstars who's flown in from Africa to join us. And now here’s the Chiffchaff, the little warbler who says his name over and over. And over. Chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff. Then that little bird with the big attitude, the Wren, cranks it up. He opens his tiny beak and a five second warbling, rattling, trilling tantrum explodes from it. Like some death metal band with the Tasmanian Devil on lead vocals.
There’s another reason for this performance: if you’ve got enough spare time to just stand around and sing then searching for food must not be a big issue for you. So, aside from being a war cry it's also a love song that tells passing females that you're a fit fellow with a well stocked territory .
If you'd like to learn more about bird song then the Back Garden Bird Race 'phone app has lots of bird song samples for you to play in its I.D. guide (here)
Sussex Wildlife Trust have also been putting out a lot of bird song guides this week.
Deciphering the Dawn Chorus (here)
James Duncan has written individual guides to learning the song of the Dunnock, Blackbird, Wren, Robin and Chaffinch
Comments
Those lovely descriptions you have given, helps immensely along with the links. We have a pair of Long Tailed Tits who have built a beautiful nest in the branches of our Honeysuckle. They have what seems a quite quiet song (twitter). The dawn chorus was certainly here at 4.30am this morning. Thank you for the mention of Sweet People with the film. Beautiful.
02 May 2020 13:10:00
Michael you daily blogs have been a highlight but today you have excellent yourself. As good a description of the Dawn Chorus as I’ve ever read. Unlikely ever to be equalled.
03 May 2020 07:23:00
An hour on Fairlight Cliffs, looking inland, produced 19 species [18 last time]-there was no migration going on [and very little during the previous 2.5 hrs seawatching.
However, Wood Pigeon, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Dunnock, Wren, Blackcap, Whitethroat, House Sparrow, Linnet, Blackbird, Magpie, Coal Tit, Jackdaw, Meadow Pipit, Carrion Crow, Robin, Herring Gull, Great Tit and Yellowhammer [one of the Hastings Country Park birds audible from the garden].
Where was my faithful Collared Dove ??
03 May 2020 10:08:00
From Wales. 14 today – rather disappointing. Have they all got it out of their system having got up so early and are now having a siesta? It’s true that hearing them helps locate them when the foliage cover hides a lot of activity. No goldfinches today. Overrun with siskins.
nuthatch
siskin
sparrow
chaffinch
Woodpecker
wren
crow
raven
wood pigeon
blackbird
coal tit
bluetit
magpie
03 May 2020 10:14:00
Overcast with some drizzle and rain in Mannings Heath, so not good for birdwatching. Few regulars not seen such as nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker and goldfinch. Only 13 species today: robin, dunnock, blue tit, great tit, blackbird, song thrush, carrion crow, wood pigeon, magpie, buzzard, canada geese, pheasant (heard not seen) and blackcap (heard but not seen)
03 May 2020 10:16:00
Cast (in order of appearance) from my back garden in Mountfield (TQ743202) :- Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Great Tit, Blackbird, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Carrion Crow, Blackcap, Common Pheasant, Starling, Jackdaw, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Robin, Magpie, Collared Dove, HerringGull, Siskin (only just making the list by appearing on my feeders at 10.58!) The only missing ‘regular’ was Buzzard (15 years ago who’d have thought that would have been the case?)
03 May 2020 10:17:00
11am 3 May: hurray, 15 species beating previous best by one (assuming the very high gull which couldn’t be specifically identified is allowed). Wood and feral pigeons, collared dove, carrion crow, magpie, blue and great tits, blackbird, robin, wren, house sparrow, goldfinch, starling, ringnecked parakeet, gull – herring or LBBG.
03 May 2020 10:17:00
Think all the birds here are exhausted after the dawn chorus. 13 here in Cuckfield. Blackbird, magpie, wood pigeon, feral pigeon, great tit, goldfinch, collared dove, dunnock, blue tit, carrion crow, starling, nuthatch, Robin.
03 May 2020 10:17:00
From our Steyning garden.
Wood Pigeon, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Robin, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Rook, Coal Tit, Magpie, Blue Tit, Starling, Herring Gull, Buzzard, Wren, House Martin, Great Tit, Swift, Swallow, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Green Woodpecker, Red Kite, & Little Egret. = 26 species (our highest total yet! Though we’re lucky in having distant views from our garden, so several species were distant views in the telescope, including a “from the garden first” in Little Egret!
03 May 2020 10:20:00
Bird Race from Hellingly BN27:
Robin, Wood Pigeon, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Pheasant, Wren, Song Thrush, Gt Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Buzzard. Goldfinch.
Highlight was the Kestrel
Look forward to Sunday mornings!
03 May 2020 10:22:00
Hi Michael,
Have become used to doing this bird-watch in sunshine. Not today – very overcast in Barcombe and even spots of rain during the first 10-15 minutes. So having got my excuse out of the way – I recorded 23 species (21 seen and 2 only heard):
Pheasant (heard)
Herring Gull
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Jackdaw
Rook
Crow
Starling
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Song Thrush
Blackcap (song heard)
House Sparrow
Swift (3)
Sparrowhawk
Pied Wagtail
House Martin
Well before the count started, a Hobby flew over the garden heading north.
Regards, Simon
03 May 2020 10:26:00
From Walberton- was forced indoors by the rain for about 20 minutes so had to listen from the window. House sparrows guaranteed as they are cheeping in a nest box on the patio whilst the parents whizz by my head!
18 in total
house sparrow
dunnock
crow
blackbird
herring gull
woodpigeon
starling
GS woodpecker (heard)
chaffinch (heard)
goldfinch
greenfinch
magpie
robin (heard)
great tit
rook
collared dove
blue tit
buzzard
03 May 2020 10:30:00
Anne Hart
The feeders were quiet with most visits made by a magpie. I was too slow to identify some small birds flitting around trees now in full leaf!
Wood Pigeon
Magpie
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Blue Tit
Robin
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Pheasant
Jay
Chaffinch
Great Tit
Nuthatch
Blackbird
Dunnock
Heard:
Mistle Thrush
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Stock Dove
18 species
Once again – a big thank you Michael.
Anne
03 May 2020 10:30:00
16 species at Heathfield. Overcast with intermittent light rain. No swifts, martins or raptors overhead today. A goldcrest singing at 0630hrs, whilst I peered into an empty moth-trap, failed to return.
03 May 2020 10:30:00
At 11.20 having morning tea and two goldcrests landed in my mulberry bush. Hope they have better timing next week!!
03 May 2020 10:31:00
22 in Ovingdean, missed a few of the regulars but the nuthatch was a welcome addition, as was a new recruit to the bird race from deepest darkest Dorset. (list uploaded to app)
03 May 2020 10:31:00
13 species from Crawley again.
1. Blackbird
2. Wood Pigeon
3. House Sparrow
4. Goldfinch
5. Feral Pigeon
6. Jackdaw
7. Starling
8. Woodpecker
9. Robin
10. Blue-tit
11. Herring Gull
12. Buzzard
13. Carrion Crow
Birdsong seemed louder today.
03 May 2020 10:44:00
23 again. Goldcrest, Wren,Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch,ChiffChaff,Dunnock,House Sparrow, Robin, Songthrush, Blackbird,Starling,Skylark,Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Magpie,Jackdaw, House Martin, Herring Gull.
Star newcomer was male Bullfinch (who’d been threatening all week to get in today’s final). Great Tits & Blue Tits feeding young in respective nest boxes, still only one or two Martins. Weather overcast
03 May 2020 10:44:00
I did not wear headphones and was treated to much cuckooing today in Partridge Green. The score was 22 today: Blackbird, Blue tit, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Cuckoo, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great tit, Grey Heron (how kind to fly across our garden today), House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Long-tailed tit, Magpie, Mistle Thrush (agressively chasing the crows as usual), Nuthatch, Robin, Song Thrush, Starling, Swallow (lovely to see one sitting on a wire, I had seen 4 flying around earlier and didn’t think I would see one during the Bird Race hour), White Dove (I expect this is a known as a Feral Pigeon), Woodpigeon, Wren. I am just trying to learn birdsong so I am not ready to cover my ears yet.
03 May 2020 10:44:00
From Offington , Worthing.
Goldfinch
Feral Pidgeon
Dunnock
Magpie
Blackbird
Herring Gull
Carrion Crow
Rook
Jackdaw
Starling
Wood Pidgeon
Great tit
Blue tit
Greenfinch
Robin
House Sparrow
Song Thrush
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Jay
Collard Dove
Total = 21
03 May 2020 10:44:00
Eight this week from my back garden in Tarring (Worthing), which is two up on last week as I’ve now learnt my pigeons. In order of appearance:
House Sparrow
Woodpigeon
Herring Gull
Collared Dove
Starling
Blackbird
Feral pigeon*
Magpie
I prefer to think of the feral pigeons as ‘town’ pigeons; urbane, sociable and no trouble in the garden. Feral does rather suggest they’re the bad birds of the neighbourhood, late night parties and general mischief-making. True, they are wild, but in a good way.
03 May 2020 10:46:00
Not as many birds today regulars are letting me down
Goldfinch,starling,wood podgeon,house sparrow,pheasant,blackbird,dunnock,collard dove,blue tit,great tit,mallard,songthrush,coot,carrion crow,rook,jackdaw,blackcap,swallow,housemartin,greenfinch,wren,robin,buzzard,moorhen,stockdove,herring gull ,mute swan, french partridge,gadwall canada goose 30
03 May 2020 10:50:00
Records for 3 rd May. Garden at Woodmancote
Robin
Wood Pigeon
Swallow
Magpie
Moorhen
Rook
Jackdaw
Goldfinch X 6
Crow
Pied Wagtail
Blue Tit
Starling
House Martins several, nesting
Buzzard X 2. Very high above
Mallard
Blackbird
Total – 16
03 May 2020 11:04:00
Some spoilsport seems to have put leaves on all the trees, making viewing more difficult! But managed 16 again: Blue tit, Herring gull, Jackdaw, Wood pigeon, Collared dove, Starling, House sparrow, Chaffinch, Carrion crow, Chiffchaff, Robin, Green woodpecker, Warbler (unidentified), Blackbird, Buzzard (I think), Magpie.
03 May 2020 11:14:00
Goldcrest, Wren and Song Thrush before the race and Coal Tit just after. Just 16 this week.
Chris Brown (Brighton)
Dunnock
2. Great Tit
3. Robin
4. Starling
5. Collared Dove
6. Goldfinch
7. Feral Pigeon
8. Herring Gull
9. Blackbird
10. Magpie
11. Woodpigeon
12. Carrion Crow
13. Jackdaw
14. Greenfinch
15. Blue Tit
16. House Sparrow
03 May 2020 11:26:00
Consistent if nothing else. My 4th count and 3 of them have been 16.
Another draw with Heathfield and by the sounds of it a draw on the moth trap too!!
Carrion Crow, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Starling, Magpie, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Chaffinch, Robin, Song Thrush, Skylark, Swift, Goldfinch, Buzzard.
03 May 2020 11:37:00
Two down on last week but I heard “our” Oystercatchers squabbling again and the Swallow was nice. No raptors today. In order, House Sparrow, Feral Pigeon, Jackdaw, Herring Gull, Robin, Rook, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Starling, Magpie, Blackbird, B-h Gull, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Wren, House Martin, Blue Tit, Oystercatcher, Swallow, 19 species.
03 May 2020 11:49:00
Garden just north of Preston Park, Brighton: in order of appearance -
Robin
Collared Dove
Magpie
Starling
Wren
Wood Pigeon
Carrion Crow
House Sparrow
Herring Gull
Goldfinch
Blackbird
Greenfinch
Jackdaw
Dunnock
Feral Pigeon
Blue Tit
Chaffinch
03 May 2020 11:56:00
18 this week , rainy.
Always more birds earlier in the morning here in Eartham.
blackbird
carrion crow
collared dove
hedge sparrow
tree sparrow
goldfinch
marsh tit
blue tit
great tit
buzzard
pheasant
magpie
wren
robin
herring gull
woodpigeon
swallow
housemartin
kestrel
Heard a cuckoo and saw a yellow hammer on a cycle to Dell Quay yesterday.
03 May 2020 12:03:00
Two down on last week but I heard “our” Oystercatchers squabbling again and the Swallow was nice. No raptors today. In order, House Sparrow, Feral Pigeon, Jackdaw, Herring Gull, Robin, Rook, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Starling, Magpie, Blackbird, B-h Gull, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Wren, House Martin, Blue Tit, Oystercatcher, Swallow, 19 species.
03 May 2020 16:38:00
Just three birds. Two peregrines (four eggs) and an unwise pigeon, briefly. Turret of the Cathedral, by webcam; I was mesmerized!
03 May 2020 20:43:00
Yes what a brilliant description of the Dawn Chorus. Was booked onto your WoodsMill event so, as a very poor alternative, sat in the garden with my husband, in our PJs at 4.30am! Lots of noise and birds started up their crooning exactly as described! Looking forward to Woods Mill and your ID cards in 2021!
10 May 2020 07:39:00
I wish someone would stand in my back garden with ID cards showing who’s singing for the Bird Race; I might get a better score!!! Bernstein, Britten and Beethoven are 3 of my favs, but I’ll have to look Brian Wilson up I think. I had to learn a solo to the song of the Australian Pied Butcher Bird once. It was very abstract about how the sound was little a pebble being dropped in a bucket and rippled in concentric circles marking territory. I like hearing the bird song outside. It is comforting to know they’re all there. And now I know what they’re singing about! Thanks!
19 Jun 2020 21:13:00