Wakey wakey! Dawn walk proves great time to explore
VOLUNTEER leaders from Macclesfield RSPB Wildlife Explorers set their alarm clocks for 4.30am to take part in their annual dawn chorus event.
For the third year the location was Ladderstile Farm in Bosley – allowing a walk through woodland down to the banks of the River Dane.
This time it was held on a beautiful sunny morning with fields overlaid with strands of mist.
Leader Martin James gave an introduction to the different birdsong Explorers might expect to hear and wildlife expert David Tolliday helped the group identify those calls as they walked through the early morning dew.
The group spotted house sparrows, collared doves, swallows and pied wagtails flitting among the buildings.
Blackbirds, song thrushes and wrens sang constantly and everyone got good views of blackcaps and long-tailed tits.
Goldfinches were singing in the hedges on the way back.
The walk ended with a barbecue breakfast, with lots of compliments on the delicious bacon butties – made from bacon kindly donated by Barrows Butchers in Bollington.
Leader Tina Hanak said: “Breakfast always tastes so much better out in the fresh air, especially with such an incredible backing track of birdsong.
“Thank you to Rose and Peter Brocklehurst for hosting our event at their wonderful farm.”