09 Dawn Chorus in Co. Wexford

The early morning group

This year's National Dawn Chorus Day was successfully celebrated in County Wexford on the first day of National Biodiversity Week (Sunday 17^th May) at 4.30am at the Raven Nature Reserve with 28 people turning out for the celebration of a potentially damp spring dawn chorus.

Slightly later

The walk, led by the 'Wildside Team', set off for a gentle stroll through the northern half of the Raven Nature Reserve with time spent listening to and identifying the early morning songsters. For the first 10 minutes it was quite wet, but this followed with a dry spell for the remainder of the walk. In all 30 species of bird were recorded – this included a couple of species, seen from the sand-dunes, flying over the sea. Views were also had of an early morning Red Squirrel and a Common Blue butterfly that was too sleepy (and cold) to move – we were not surprised - has been a pretty poor week weather-wise. A quick look at the large Round-leaved Wintergreen plant site showed that they are just starting to flower.

Light in the sky

Everyone retired to Hotel Curracloe for an excellent 'Full Irish' at 7am. Many thanks to those who turned out to celebrate the dawn – one gentleman coming from as far as Co Kilkenny. Many thanks also to Hotel Curracloe for again looking after us after our annual dawn venture – great breakfast, excellent company.

Heading for breakfast

Bird Species Seen

Cormorant; Grey Heron; Little Egret; Moorhen; Kestrel; Pheasant; Black-headed Gull; Little Tern; Wood Pigeon; Feral Pigeon; Collared Dove; Swallow; House Martin; Wren; Dunnock; Robin; Blackbird; Mistle Thrush; Song Thrush; Great Tit; Coal Tit; Blackcap; Whitethroat; Sedge Warbler; Chiffchaff; Willow Warbler; Goldcrest; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Goldfinch; Rook; Jackdaw; Hooded Crow; Magpie.

Others

Red Squirrel

Common Blue Butterfly

Round-leaved Wintergreen

Dawn Chorus at Raven.mp3 1831 kb