11th May 2024 - Dawn Chorus Walk

Pre-dawn near Strathpeffer (Fiona Reid)

Only four of us were hardy (or foolish) enough to meet at 5am on a beautiful May morning, to hunt out the dawn chorus in a few sites near Strathpeffer. Under a pinkening sky, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Sedge Warblers, Blackbirds, Robins and Goldfinches battled it out for vocal supremacy, as the the Peffery Way grew brighter. Next stop at Achilty Woods, a Spotted Flycatcher sang repeatedly from a high obvious perch and then hawked a insect or two: the first that year for most of us. The Wood Warblers were shy to begin with but then hopped around trilling and shivering giving us splendid views. A distant Cuckoo called. At Moi island, the Garden Warblers greeted us at the bridge, Song Thrushes repeated their phrases with abandon, Willow Warblers sang, Grasshopper Warblers reeled and Reed Buntings chinked, as Redpoll buzzed overhead. Sand Martins rattled down the river and a couple of Common Sandpipers landed on the bank while a Whitethroat scratched it's short refrain. Red Kites and corvids circled above and a Stock Dove whizzed past. So busy!

Finally, we headed to Brahan and found the Tree Pipits displaying above the same old oak as last year, but with an added bonus of a Nuthatch scooting down the gnarly bark… a highland record for three of us! 
Back in time for breakfast with 43 birds noted
Fiona Reid