The Dawn Chorus

Rob

Rob

May contain preservatives
Location
Solihull, UK
I don't know about other parts of the world, but here in the UK one of the delights of getting up early at this time of the year is 'The Dawn Chorus'. We haven't got many spectacular looking birds but what they lack in looks they more than make up for in their song. This morning I heard the melodic song of a blackbird, the trilling of a song thrush, the two tone song of chiff-chaffs, the arpeggio of long tailed tits, the ticking of blue tits and coal tits, the raucous noise of various members of the crow family, the constant coo-coo of wood pigeons and the scolding cry of a robin defending its territory. Before the local traffic got going it was a magical time, nature at its best.
 

Hmm, well if it is not a pit bull, maybe the critter would share, but it has to be decaf...
 
Rob said:
I don't know about other parts of the world, but here in the UK one of the delights of getting up early at this time of the year is 'The Dawn Chorus'. We haven't got many spectacular looking birds but what they lack in looks they more than make up for in their song. This morning I heard the melodic song of a blackbird, the trilling of a song thrush, the two tone song of chiff-chaffs, the arpeggio of long tailed tits, the ticking of blue tits and coal tits, the raucous noise of various members of the crow family, the constant coo-coo of wood pigeons and the scolding cry of a robin defending its territory. Before the local traffic got going it was a magical time, nature at its best.
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I used to love being woken up early this time of year with the sun streaming through the bedroom window and listening to the dawn chorus, there is nothing quite like it but unfortunately where I live now I very rarely hear the birds except for the squawking of the sea gulls flying overhead.
 
Bee said:
I used to love being woken up early this time of year with the sun streaming through the bedroom window and listening to the dawn chorus, there is nothing quite like it but unfortunately where I live now I very rarely hear the birds except for the squawking of the sea gulls flying overhead.
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Similar here, Bee. No shortage of gulls! Other than that I think we get house sparrows, starlings and blackbirds. Love hearing them whatever they are.
 
QuickSilver said:
Sea gulls would be fine with me provided they were accompanied by the crashing of waves.
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I live within about 10 minutes walk of the beach but not close enough to hear any crashing waves.

When my family were here at Easter we took my 8 year old granddaughter crabbing, when we had finished, my son threw the remaining bacon up to the gulls circling overhead, it was fascinating watching them catch the bacon in mid air.:)
 
I grew up by the sea, love the sound of gulls, so primal and free. Now, I live fifteen minutes away, so must content myself with thrushes, bluebirds(re introduced successfully), starlings, etc. We have a new bird, I don't recognize. I am waiting for hummingbirds--no noticeable song, but beautiful beyond compare, dancing among the fuschias on my balcony in the summer.
 
I also love the sound of gulls, there's something evocative and plaintive about the sound of gulls as they fly around the coast. I used to live very close to the coast in South Devon and the sound of gulls is like an audio background to growing up there, they were always around. We don't get them much in the Midlands were I am now, just a few sad individuals probably scavenging on a rubbish tip somewhere. Many people don't like them as they can be a nuisance at times, I've seen them swipe a pasty or ice-cream right out of someone's hands. My thoughts are that they were there first so live and let live.
 
I agree, with you Rob. I also love crows, cheeky things. Did you hear about the genius female crow who learned to use a stick as a tool? She then proceeded to teach the knack to her children. I have often wondered if this was the beginning of a race of uber crows. My friend, the biologist, believes we are raising über urban raccoons.
 
I don't dislike the sound of gulls it is just they are all I hear, although I do get a variety of birds in the garden I rarely hear them sing, they just forage in the garden for something to eat and they are off again.
 
Crows are the spawn of the devil, in my eyes. Once I saw a crow in a tree attacking and flying off with baby birdies and the mother bird freaking out totally. They have always represented death to me. Oh yes, and I was once attacked by a crow as a 12-year-old riding my bike along No. 2 Road in Richmond, B.C. beside a big ditch. The crow flew over me and pecked me on the head. Not funny. I was terrified and almost fell into the ditch. So crows bad. "Quoth the raven nevermore...." Edgar Allen Poe. Creepy.
 
Seagulls are fine birds, but there's also a downside to them. They are such hungry things and will swoop down and snatch whatever your eating right out of your hand, so you really have to be careful. I do love birds, though, don't get me wrong..... regular birds.

Once I was watering the garden with the sprayer hose and dozens of little birds came out of nowhere to get a shower. It was the cutest thing. I would aim the sprayer on them and they went nuts flying and swooping through the spray.
 
We spent the summer a couple of years ago in an RV park in the mountains of North Carolina. For about three weeks, we had an "unmated male" mockingbird (I confirmed this with a local birder) making his home in a tree right outside our bedroom window. He would start his nightly routine about midnight and "sing" until about four. Tony Bennett he wasn't. I tried shining a flashlight at him, throwing rocks and even spraying a hose at him. At one point, I considered signing him up for a dating service or hiring a hooker for him. Anything to get him to STOP.SINGING.ALL.NIGHT. I guess he finally started hanging out in the right bird bar and "got lucky" because we didn't hear from him for the rest of the summer.
 
That is so funny, Jujube. Even though I have many birds greeting me in the morning...I am unable to tell which bird is singing what. To sit with my morning coffee, listening to them...along with the early morning smells...is always the beginning of a beautiful day.
 
We get many kinds of birds including lots of seagulls. Sometimes can hear woodpeckers, owls and cuckoos. Love them all.
 
I love most bird sounds, sitting in the garden in the sun there is nothing more relaxing to me than birds singing away,...gulls always remind me of the sea..

Love the funny moments dotted about in this thread as well!!
 

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