Dubwath Survey

The Dubwath Dawn Bird Survey is always held on the first Sunday of May. This is the 15th year we have held one and the weather over that time, as is usual in the Lakes has been variable. Some years we have been lashed by torrential rain and any self-respecting bird is huddled down in shelter, some years it has been thick fog and muffled cheeps are that have been heard, some years cold and frost has bitten our noses and numbed fingers. But this year was perfect with a sharp nip in the air when we started at 05.30 to full blown warm sunshine by the time we ambled into the Railway cafe for bacon butties and hot coffee. at 07.30. 

The birds felt the same way as the sun hit their favourite perching places and the area echoed with song, the waterfall cascade of notes from the willow warblers, the jubilant repeat of songthrushes from tops of oaks, and the sedge churring with sedge warblers.
Good light gave good views too. This old ash stump has a pair of tree creepers busy flitting in and out of a hole in the bole, feeding young. Further on a grasshopper warbler reeled out its song for minutes -does it do it in one breath or like a didgeridoo player practice circular breathing? And then there it was perched on a bit of Canary grass, in full view. 
As the group I was leading said, it was the best Dawn Chorus that we had ever had. 
And despite the cool night Peter had a good Moth trap collection with Hebrew Characters, Buff Ermine, Carpets, and the first Poplar hawk moth of the year!