Dawn Chorus at the Gort River Walk

As the sun came up over the Gort River we gathered to listen to one of the most magical experiences of nature, the Dawn Chorus. Over 40 people rose early on Sunday morning to join Gordon D’Arcy at the Gort River Walk to listen to our wild birds in song.

Environmentalist, author and artist Gordon D’Arcy expertly guided us in tuning in to the sounds and differentiating various birds through their song. There are 30 song birds in Ireland, and we heard at least 12 of them, and saw or heard a further 10 different species of birds.

It is usually the male bird who sings. They possibly sing for a variety of reasons. To stake their territory, to announce that they have arrived back from journeys afar, to impress the females and scare off male rivals. Singing loud and proud takes energy, and says, Good Morning, it’s me, and I’m strong and healthy and survived the night !

As we moved along the River Walk path we consistently heard the little wren, it may be tiny but it is very loud and bold in song, a shrill string of whistles and trilling notes, lasting a few seconds and ending suddenly. The day became brighter, with only a little cloud cover. The sun was trying to break through, and the birds were responding to this. At different points and habitats we heard new songs, chiffchaff and gold finch in the dense hedging and ash trees surrounding Pound Road, black caps from the gorse bushes area over the footbridge. As we meandered along the Kinincha path Gorden pointed out the different songs of the chiffchaff and willow warbler. Both look similar, but their songs and calls are quite different. The chiffchaff with a song that sounds similar to its name, a repeated chit chat , and the willow warbler with its descending string of notes that fizzle out. Looking out towards the footbridge from the recently established pollinator plant area, sand martins were spotted and a gray heron swooped along the river, looking for a suitable spot to patiently wait until an opportunity came along to spear it’s breakfast. Wood pigeons called in the distance.

Gordon also drew our attention to some of the more outstanding plants on the River Walk, the Yellow Flag Iris just coming into flower and the bog bean in the river. The Water Crow’s Foot which is just starting to flower can be seen covering much of the river in the Summer, and is a sign of a healthy water system. We spent time admiring the small limestone outcrop, to the right when walking from the footbridge to Kinincha Road, and its cover of Burnet roses and daisies.

Gordon D’Arcy keeps an eye on the area around the Yellow Flag Irises, as one of the Gort River Walk volunteers leads the way along the lower bank, collecting some litter as he goes.

The sun came out as we reached Kinincha Road and Lidl. There we were delighted by the aerial dance of some house martins and swallows that look like they are nesting in the protective eves of a house near there.

As we walked into the quiet town centre, the talk went to the declining population of swifts who have recently arrived back from Africa and, except when nesting, spend their whole life on the wing. What a magical end to this Dawn Chorus Walk when one swift flew at high speed, insect hunting from building to building across the main street, just above our heads.

Bird species heard on this Dawn Chorus Walk

Wren
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush
ChiffChaff
Chaffinch
Willow Warbler
Black cap
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Gold Finch
Wood Pigeon

Bird Species seen or heard calling on this Dawn Chorus Walk

Gray Heron
Raven
Collared Dove
Jackdaw
House Martins
Sand Martins
Swallows
Black headed Gull
Swift

There are many more bird species that have been seen or heard along the Gort River Walk, including the mute swan, buzzard, kingfisher, dipper, gray wagtail, linnet, long tailed tit, stone chat, meadow pipits and moorhen.

Enjoy the Gort River Walk and its precious natural habitat.
Please keep dogs on a lead and take your rubbish home.

Thank you to Gorden D’Arcy, Galway County Council Heritage office and Biodiversity office, for supporting this event and the Gort River Walk volunteers.