4th May Bank Holiday Monday Dawn Chorus along the Leeds Liverpool Canal Alicia and Kerry and Josh (12) and Vicky (his mum)
It began at 3.30 am Alicia bobbing her head around the door “GOOD MORNING! Come on – get up” 4.00 am Stella Precinct We meet Josh n Vicky – the other invited guests didn’t show It was spitting with rain and the blackbirds were already singing “Oh no – we’re late” I exclaimed – voice slightly strangulated “Don’t panic – birds sing all through the night in the city because of the light pollution” (it’s always good to have an expert to hand) We drove down Derby Road towards the city centre parked up just off Pleasant Street and walked – laden with tarpaulin, beanbag cushions, tripod, recording equipment, camera, flasks, clip boards. snacks, and an umbrella – up Everton Vale – a decommissioned cobbled street off Derby Road - to the spot along the canal Alicia and I thought would be the most accommodating – for us – and for hearing bird song If you want to hear a dawn chorus – the main ingredient – apart form the birds – is trees. If you don’t have a good tree canopy – there’s nowhere for the birds to roost – no roosting bird means no dawn chorus The site was selected with a number of criteria in mind… 1. Trees 2. Bird activity evidence – on our recky Alicia and I had spotted linnets and finches and sparrows and tits 3. Shrubby vegetation – as well as the trees along the canal bank, there were trees and shrubs on the railway embankment, and a long left brownfield site adjoining the canal towpath (hidden from view by a high red brick wall) well colonized with small trees, shrubs, and unmanaged grass land 4. A suitable place to sit - this spot had a grassy bank, a knoll if you like 5. Sheltered. 1
Our chosen spot 2
4.15 am tarpaulin down bean bags atop then us then the rain then the umbrella up then me trying to set up my recording equipment in the dark – aided by the ambient light of my mobile phone – having forgotten to bring a torch rain and bitterly cold wind and wet equipment and cold wet hands by the time I was done my beanbag was soaked I sat on it without thinking Result – wet jeans! It was a miserable cold and wet and windy morning, and we were soon grateful to have a wall behind us, sheltering us from the bitter wind that was coming in off the shore. On the opposite side of the canal – reed beds and a deep bank stuffed full of trees We waited… Silently… 4.30 am We were still waiting but all we could hear was the drone of traffic along Derby Road I had no idea that the traffic would be so busy and relentless at this time of day… With no other sounds around – the stillness of early morning – the sounds of the cars were inescapable. It was loud to our ears. Funny how you don’t notice it half as much in the day time - it’s just one of those ambient sounds that you are able to screen out or ignore But not at 4.30 am! 3
4.45 am Where were the bloody birds? It was still dark, and Alicia assured me, Josh, and Vicky, that they would wake up and sing – clearly city birds don’t have to worry about getting worms! Finally At 4.50 am it begins… About a mile down the canal - northwards towards Litherland – Rimrose Valley perhaps? http://maghullmeanders.blogspot.com/2008/07/rimrose-valley-revisited.html http://www.sefton.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4776 5.00 am The city canal birds finally wake up not the cacophony of sound I’d wished for but for an urban industrial site with no near-by park not half bad we did experience a dawn chorus on an urban stretch of Leeds Liverpool Canal in Bootle
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5.20 am The sun began to rise pink light time to take a photo but my tripod was otherwise engaged – supporting the sound recording equipment but none the less – an impression
By 6.00 am were cold and damp to the bone - – morning had broken time to go home Josh and Vicky were great. It wasn’t the most spectacular of events But it was an adventure Something a bit different Something one wouldn’t normally do And I think it’s fare to say A morning we will all remember for many years to come So what did we hear apart from the cars? 5
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