There is a special grassy knoll in the field below the house with some twisted dancing birch trees. A few days ago Farmer decided to hook up the two hammocks we have had for years but never used. Perfect place to go and listen to the dawn chorus.
The alarm clock went off just before 4am and we nearly didn't get out of bed. However a few minutes later, armed with sleeping bags and a flask of tea, we headed down in the almost dark to the hammocks.
Neither of us are good on bird song ID so were unaware of a lot of the bird song and who was singing, but it was just wonderful to lie there (grateful for the sleeping bags as it was pretty cold before sunrise) listening to the woodland wake up, and wait for the sun to come over the Ensay hill.
We did hear cuckoos calling in two different places - one near the house, and the other coming from the woodland near the old boathouse.
As it got lighter, the Common Gulls from the colony on the lochan started flying around, the Hooded crows did the same. And the fine branches of the birch trees above us quivered in the breeze.
A heavy dew fell on the grass between us walking down in the dark and getting up when the sun came over the hill.
A Robin, several Song thrushes and Blackbirds came close by to find food in the grass.
We walked back up the hill and found breakfast in the kitchen.
