I was woken at 4.30am by one of the dogs, so spent ten minutes out the back, and the noise really was incredible.

Audible above the cacophony, the two biggest surprises were a Cuckoo calling from the direction of Brushes Valley, and Pheasant calling from the Country Park. A Tawny Owl was also heard hooting.

I thought I'd revive this thread as today is International Dawn Chorus Day.

Although we are somewhat restricted in the birding we do due to the Lockdown, I got up early and went down to listen from the garden.

As expected the first birds singing were Blackbirds and there were far more singing first thing than I hear later in the day. As least two Wren and a Robin soon joined in and Scratchy the Dunnock was singing from his usual perch in next door's garden. I could also hear the Blackcap at this point.

The lack of traffic also helped as I could hear a Song Thrush that was probably a quarter of a mile away!

A Carrion Crow joined in and a Woodpigeon and even Canada Geese were calling from around the area.

Finally a Blue Tit was singing and two Grey Heron which flew over together both called once.

No finches were heard.

Did anyone else bother getting up and having a listen?

ian we was lucky it started to rain half an hour after we finished
and your right it is hard work getting up at that time jimmy

I take it wasn't pouring it down like it has been the rest of the day then Jimmy?

Unfortunatley, I very rarely get up really early for county birding nowadays, not since 2002 and the year long early starts my county year list entailed but my work in Manchester city centre often sees me out and about during the very small hours and it's surprising the dawn chorus that can often be heard right in the heart of the city, Robins, Blackbirds, MIstle Thrushes, Wrens, Dunnocks, Blue Tits and Grey Wagtails are the most common but you don't have to go far away from the heart of the city to encounter many more species and then sometimes (and it is unfortunatley only sometimes) you get lucky and stumble upon a singing Black Redstart, although I've drawn a complete blank so far this spring on that front, even around last years breeding site I don't think you can better a nice woodland chorus like yours this morning though....perhaps I'll try getting up early tomorro.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 20:08, 2007-05-16

rspb local group had a dawn chorus event this morn 4.15 start in lady mabels wood and the haigh plantations birds seen or heard tawny owl ,blackbird , grasshopper warbler ,robin ,song thrush , whitethroat ,reed buntings,pheasant,carrion crow,blackcap,garden warbler willow warbler,l t tit,great tit,blue tit,magpie, chaffinch ,goldfinch, g s woodpecker skylark,mallard,mute swan,grey heron,canadagoose moorhen ,collared dove,wood pigeon,wren ,dunnock ,jay we finished about 6.00 we probably missed a few but just the sounds of the birds at that time in the morning was magical enough thanks to allan rimmer for organising it and if you have never done a dawn chorus its highly recommended jimmy: