Early birds deliver a delightful earful at dawn
By Linda Dolata. As published on The Archer, June 2017
I suspect I am in the minority in thinking that 4.45am is the best time of the day, but even so we had an excellent turn out for the dawn chorus event at Long Lane Pasture on the last Sunday in April.
In the past we have walked around in a group, but this time everyone seemed to find a favourite bench or tree to wait quietly for the birds to do their thing, and for the sun to rise
The blackbirds as ever were in full-throated song, each declaring its territory loudly and tunefully. A song thrush with its repetitive but so-pleasing melody carolled from the top of one of the poplars lining the North Circular, and even included facsimile police sirens in its repertoire. Somehow they sound much nicer when the thrush is the source of the sound.
Tuneful and harsh
The blackbird, thrush, robin, wren and blackcap all have wonderful songs, which everybody should do their best to hear at this time of the year... and all do still sing during the day, not just at dawn to welcome the sunrise.
Close to where the song thrush perched on high, a pair of crows tend the nest that we watched them construct last year. Other recognisable arias came from a pair of competing blackcaps, then minute wrens who have such loud brave voices for such a tiny bird.
As the time passed, other less tuneful calls were included in the chorus: the crows and their cousins the magpies were in evidence as was a single jay with its harsh call. A total of seven mallards went over, no doubt a female being pursued by several potential suitors, then a pair of honking Canada geese.
Flying lollipop
A good range of tits, bluetit, great tit, coal tit, and finally a single long-tailed tit were all heard and then seen. It is rare to see the beautiful little 'flying lollipop' of a long-tailed tit on its own, but this one was so busy collecting insect larvae that it obviously had nestlings to feed. We know they have bred on the pasture in the past, as last year their tiny neat round nest was spotted, concealed in the brambles.
The resident moorhen was there too, while starlings, sparrows and pigeons haunted the bird feeders and overhead were seen an elegant seagull, wood pigeons, and doubtless other eathered vertebrates not listed.
We are very lucky in being next to both the railway line and allotments, which more than doubles the area for the birds to inhabit.
For anybody who has yet to visit the pasture, it is open every day at this time of the year, located on Long Lane, opposite the fire station. To know more, pop in on a Saturday morning or look for our stall at East Finchley Festival this month.