Dawn Chorus | 29th May 2023 | 7am

by Jonathan Pattullo

A Dawn Walk in The Den

Thirteen people met, including myself (7 adults & 6 small people) on this beautiful Monday morning outside the Scout Hall. After our introductions we had an initial look and listen and saw a small party of Swifts, and a Dunnock and Wren were singing their hearts out nearby.

We slowly made our way along past the factory and followed the path through the historical common grazing ground locally known as the ‘Commonty’ and saw Blackbird, Robin, Starling, Wood Pigeon, Jackdaw and Herring Gull, from the path alongside the Gairie Burn.

Between the Bellies Brae underpass and the start of The Den, a Great Tit, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch and Chiffchaff were not seen, but identified by sound. Into the start of The Den, the Rooks raucous calls were making us look skyward busying themselves with their nesting activities. A short distance further along, a Song Thrush was feeding and pulled a worm from the ground. It then proceeded to clean the mud off it by wiping it on the grass before it disappeared, hopefully away to feed its young with this juicy morsel.

A circular walk through The Den didn’t produce anymore new species; some of the birds we’d seen already were noted again, but this area was so peaceful and serene at this time of day.

As we retraced our steps back to our starting point, some of our group made their goodbyes, and a handsome male Bullfinch, Goldfinch and a Dipper in the Burn were our last additions to an enjoyable couple of hours.

Thank you to all who attended and allowed me to share my knowledge with them, and to Sustainable Kirriemuir for giving me an opportunity to meet likeminded people who care about their community and want to make a difference.

With thanks to the following local people who kindly gave permission for their photographs to be featured on our website:

Bill Nicoll, John Orr, Kirstien Anton, Malcolm McBeath and Virginia Osborne.