As far as we know there’s never been an organised dawn chorus walk at Jenny’s Well Local Nature Reserve before, so we needed to put that right!
It was about 04:50 when I arrived at Jenny’s Well Road, to see that two or three other PNHS folks had already turned up. Over the next 10 minutes our numbers grew to a respectable 13 hardy individuals. After a brief introduction we set off into the reserve, with blackbirds singing loudly to herald the new day. The next thing we spotted were a couple of Pipistrelle bats busily catching a few more insects before their bedtime. We walked the length of the reserve at a slow and stately pace, people reporting what they were hearing, (and seeing), and asking questions about the Jenny’s Well LNR, as it was a first-time visit for a few members of our group. We passed a number of bird and bat boxes which Friends of Jenny’s Well have installed too.
By the time we reached the western end of the reserve we had heard (and in most cases seen) Magpie, Blackbird, Wren, Blue-tit, Chiffchaff, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Crow, Herring Gull, Song Thrush, Jackdaw, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Black Headed Gull and Starling. Considering the poor light (it was pretty drizzly at this point) we had good views of a Whitethroat perching on top of a Hawthorn. The highlight (for me at least) was hearing a Grasshopper Warbler – a first for me at Jenny’s Well. It seemed to favour the SUDS pond areas just over the river. Finally, we had a look at a nesting Moorhen. 20 species in all.
The rain had thickened up by this point so we retreated inside the FOJW headquarters (a 2nd hand shipping container) for a quick brew and some excellent pastries, before people dispersed and headed home.
We’ll do this again next year I hope!
Matthew Smith
Paisley Natural History Society 