Woken by an early alarm, I leap out of bed and immediately open the living room window. Our local blackbird is singing his heart out, accompanied by a chaffinch and a dunnock. I eat a quick breakfast and pack my rucksack before heading out for the bus (thankfully there is a service this early in the day!). I meet with several other bleary-eyed birdwatchers at the Water of Leith Conservation Trust Centre.
crescent moon
caught in the trees
dawn chorus
We wander slowly along the path, all eyes and ears open. A song thrush sings loudly at the entrance to the walkway and all the way along, the wrens are singing so loudly they almost drown out everything else. We catch sight of a tawny owl high in a tree, while a dipper flies low over the river, calling as it goes.
The blackcaps (common along here) are elusive for most of the walk, but finally they start singing, but always in the distance. A pair of bullfinches appear, the male's red breast glowing red in the low sun. Blackbirds, robins, chaffinches, chiffchaffs, blue tits and great tits join in the chorus, all singing so loudly in a mass of song, that it can be hard to identify each individual bird's song.
Squirrels are dancing in the trees as we make our way back to the Visitor Centre for coffee, the dawn chorus still ringing in our ears.
12 comments:
Wow even the squirrels were dancing! Very sweet... Sounds like an incredible chorus.
Ah, A haibun blog. I do like birdsong - distinct lack of it out here on the Atlantic.
You make it sound wonderful, whereas being anything other than a 'morning' person, I'm usually grumbling about being woken by our dawn chorus!
How lucky to hear all these wonderful birds singing Juliet. Someone was very good to recognise all the songs too. I can recognise a few well-known ones but my brother has an amazing knowledge of bird song so it always interesting walking with him. The nesting rooks are making my favourite "songs" at the moment. A lovely sign of springtime.
Cathy, i do know most of the birdsongs myself to be honest, but it was great to be out at that time to actually hear the dawn chorus!
Now, that sounds like a grand way to start the day.
Wonderful prose and haiku - makes me want to get up early to fully appreciate the birdlife around here (plus that is when you get to see the dolphins). I so love the image of the moon caught in the trees - haha!
Hi Juliet,
It is one of the most beautiful thing waking up and hearing the dawn chorus.
We have tuis in a tree out from the bedroom window and they always make such a noise.
Lovely post.
Happy day
Hugs
Carolyn
Pretty good way to start a day ....
Delightful. What a wonderful morning.
Neat haiku, too.
Easter Blesings to you and yours Juliet
I was accidentally roused up at 4:45 this morning by a phone call. That was the bad news. The good news was my own opportunity to hear the world begin its chorus.
What wonderful descriptions you give us!
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