Where to hear the dawn chorus

The centuries old hedgerows that criss-cross the 24 hectare site are home to birds such as robin, blackbird and great tit leading the dawn chorus, joined later on by chiffchaffs and blackcaps. The reserve also hosts a few rarities such as redstart and willow warbler. While you’re there explore the meadows with their fantastic display of wildflowers throughout spring and summer.

Visiting Birches Farm

This ancient woodland with its diverse tree and understorey species providing food and shelter for birds is one of the best places in Herefordshire to hear the dawn chorus. Expect to hear blackcap, willow warbler, chiffchaff and the occasional wood warbler. Nuthatches, treecreepers, marsh tits and jays are all frequently seen and the drumming of woodpeckers echoes through the woods throughout the spring.

Visiting Lea & Paget's Wood

Bird life is plentiful here as you wander along the sunny rides and woodland glades of this ancient woodland and arboretum. Spring migrants such as chiffchaff and spotted flycatcher breed here and marsh tit and siskins visit the north wood. Arriving in April and May spot the swallows flying out from their nests under the eaves of the Visitor Centre.

Visiting Queenswood

In the south of the county, at Leeping Stocks the diverse habitats and species in the reserve attract blackcap, marsh tit, nuthatch and woodpeckers. This ancient coppiced woodland is now thinned in places to allow light to reach the woodland floor and a canopy crown to develop, much to the woodland bird’s approval.

Visiting Leeping Stocks

Although the dawn chorus might be competing with the sound of canada geese on the once glacially-formed lake at Titley, there are plenty of blackcaps, chiffchaffs and woodland warblers making quite a sound when you walk in Green Wood. The nest boxes here are occupied each year by pied flycatchers and redstarts. In the summer, enjoy watching dragonflies and damselflies hawk insects over the water.

Visiting Titley Pool