Dawn Chorus

The daily symphony

Every morning throughout spring, hundreds of common woodland and garden birds wake up and sing the dawn chorus.

Whether in your back garden, local park or woodland, the sounds between about 3.30 and 6.30am can be surprising and wonderful.

:: Listen to the dawn chorus, recorded in spring 2008, by clicking on the links below. In the first link, ornithologist Jim Clarke provides commentary on which birds are singing. The second link is the dawn chorus without commentary.

Radio Sheffield's Action Desk producer Andy Kershaw spent a chilly spring morning in Ecclesall Woods with Jim Clarke to record the dawn chorus.

Sunrise in Ecclesall Woods

"The commonest birds here are robins, wrens, chaffinches and the odd buzzard, with plenty of blackbirds, blue-tits, nuthatches and song thrushes too," says Jim.

"Ecclesall Woods also has one of the largest gatherings of carrion crows, jackdaws and rooks in the Sheffield area. In winter, thousands of them come from miles around and roost in the centre of the wood. At dawn you can come and hear them all waking up.

"There's so many of them, it really is a tremendous sight to see them wheel around in the sky."

:: For details of wildlife organisations and Dawn Chorus events in your area, call the CSV Action Desk at BBC Radio Sheffield (0114 267 5444).

During our stroll through the woods we captured the magnificent sounds of the Great Spotted Woodpecker as it bobbed about from tree to tree looking for a suitable bough to create its unique Woody Woodpecker 'rat-a-tat' sound.

Nuthatch

"Woodland bird watching can bring some surprises and the magic of the woods at dawn revealed many of them," says Jim. "I've travelled everywhere from the Shetlands to the Isles of Scilly and into mainland Europe pursuing my passion for birds.

"I grew up on a hill two miles from here and it was growing up next to these woodlands that inspired me to find out more about the wildlife how it interacts."

"I'm also a musician and it's fascinating to hear the natural notes which birds can reach. The symphony of the dawn chorus is one of life's wonders."

Ecclesall Woods 

Ecclesall Woods in the south west of Sheffield covers 140 hectares (about 350 acres). They are the largest semi-natural woodland in South Yorkshire, with their own bird sanctuary and woodland saw-mill. 

Ecclesall Woods

The woods contain a number of important prehistoric and early historic monuments and charcoal heaths. They're a Local Nature Reserve, supporting species and habitats of high priority within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

The woods have over 15 kilometres of paths and bridleways. For more information on walks and access in Ecclesall Woods, visit the Sheffield City Council website on the right of the page.