Early spring birdsong.

Yesterday morning I walked along the disused railway to Hazelhurst Junction and back along the canal. There was lots of birdsong and evidence of other breeding behaviour to be seen. I heard at least four Song Thrushes, three Chaffinches, Dunnocks, Robins, one Mistle Thrush, Great and Blue Tits, and Wrens singing. Plus one wheezing Greenfinch, two Reed Buntings attempting a first hesitant song, and one or two Woodpigeons cooing. I didn't hear but saw the local pair of Stock Doves a they flew rapidly across the route of the railway to land in a large Ash tree (I wonder how much longer that will be there now that the Ash Dieback is reported to have spread last year? http://treehealth.plantsci.org.uk/).

View of various habitats from the canal towpath looking towards Dunwood. In the foreground, scrub; beyond the railway a small reed bed (in which Reed Buntings usually breed); beyond that pasture and part of Dunwood itself. 

Then this morning, as has happened the last few mornings, at about 6am while sitting in bed reading, I heard a flock of  Jackdaws arriving for the days business in and around Endon. I assume these birds are some that roost among the 400 or so Jackdaws, Rooks, Crows and Woodpigeons that roost at Baddeley Green https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=479669269522962873#editor/target=post;postID=2257987925238157804;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=13;src=postname

As the darkness of night dissipated and dawn arrived a pair of Tawny Owls called followed by first a Robin, and then a Wren sang out. At time of writing a Blue Tit is singing from a tree at the end of my garden.