From 6:00am - 8:00am, bird lovers aged 10 years and upwards can join local bird expert and Northumberland Wildlife Trust volunteer Chris Wright at the wildlife charity’s St Nicholas Park reserve in Gosforth, Newcastle.

For two hours, participants will be able to hear the reserve’s resident blackbirds, bull finches, green finches, gold finches, great tits, blue tits and chaffinches heralding the crowning of Charles III with their own unique fanfares.

It is hoped that the woodpecker that visits the reserve from time to time will also make a cameo appearance with their tree ‘drumming’.

It will be the second year that Chris Wright has led the Dawn Chorus walk around the urban reserve. A volunteer with the Trust since retiring a few years ago, Chris is a lifelong local birder who has always enjoyed listening to bird songs and calls. He has recently become a bird ringer.

What started as a small urban event in Birmingham in the 1980s, International Dawn Chorus Day is now celebrated on the first Sunday in May in 80 countries and all across the world people set their alarm clocks early to delight in the sweet sound of birdsong.

Liz Lovatt, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Communications and Engagement Manager says:

“Three years ago our Dawn Chorus event was live streamed from a back garden in Saltburn and we all thought life would never be the same again, so isn’t it great that life is back to normal and we can host another Dawn Chorus Day event to celebrate the new Carolean era.

“However, if you can’t join us, set your alarm clocks really early, throw open your windows and take five minutes to bask in some wonderful sounds.”

Places need to be booked in advance.  Visit www.nwt.org.uk/events to secure a place. The event includes a continental breakfast.

Anybody wanting to get ahead and see if they can spot the UK’s star performers such as robins, song thrushes and blackbirds can also visit: www.wildlifetrusts.org.uk/dawn-chorus-day and listen to short recordings of what each individual bird sounds like.