This year’s annual Dawn Chorus walk, led as usual by Chris Walpole, leaves Belstone Village Hall at 5.30am on Saturday 3rd May (the day before International Dawn Chorus Day) and follows a varied route around the parish, through woods, across fields, along lanes and over the open moor. Last year we had perfect weather although we saw and/or heard fewer species than usual – one unusual sighting turned out to be the Red Devils Army display team of powered parachutists descending through trails of red smoke to herald the start of the Ten Tors walk! So far this year summer arrivals have included chiffchaff (first heard 8 March), swallow (first seen 2 April), blackcap (first heard 4 April) and willow warbler (first heard 6 April) – although not record earliest dates in my database these are all earlier than the average dates.
Wear your walking boots for the rough bits and bring your binoculars and bird-identifying apps, but please leave your four-legged friends at home. We should be back at the Hall for a breakfast of cereals, toast and bacon rolls by 8am. Suggested donations of £5 for the walk or £10 for the walk and breakfast will be gratefully received for Hall funds.
