Inside Jordans

Countryside Catchup - May

Posted by Rachel Marston 07 May 2009 10:38am

You have just a few weeks left to make the most of the dawn chorus. And why not? It is one the wonders of nature, and of course it is a totally free experience. Between April and May the dawn chorus reaches its full crescendo as the voices of the UK's resident songbirds, like blackbirds and robins are joined by those of summer visitors, such as nightingales. Most of the birds which sing are male and they do so to defend their territory from other male birds.

The dawn chorus does extend beyond dawn into the morning but if you really want to experience it at its best you need to be awake by 4.30am, literally, the crack of dawn. The best place to experience the dawn chorus is in a wood but if you don't fancy going that far you can just open your window and set your alarm to hear the birds, you certainly won't get the full effect but you will let a fragment of the chorus into your room. Don't forget to have a hearty bowl of cereal afterwards for breakfast. 

Other countryside delights to be experienced in May:

* Bluebells, you can see from the picture the woods around us have been full to bursting with bluebells, they won't last much longer so make sure you have at least one bluebell walk this May.

* Birds nesting, swallows have returned from their long migration, watch them performing aerial gymnastics as they hunt for insects.

* Butterflies begin to emerge.

* Meadows begin to flower, did you know 97% of our meadows have been lost since the 1940's, another reason why we all need to do our bit to help pollinating insects like bees. 

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