THE dawn chorus of birdsong can be heard at Belstone on Saturday, April 25 with an early morning walk.

The walk leaves Belstone Village Hall at 5.30am and arrives back by about 8am for a breakfast of cereals, bacon rolls, toast, cheese scones and hot drinks.

Walk leader Chris Walpole said: 'We usually see or hear nearly 40 species on these annual walks and quite often there'll be a surprise or two. 

'Last year we unexpectedly saw a sparrowhawk, a stock dove and a herring gull as well as the more usual edge of Dartmoor birds.

'It's the best time of day to learn the different songs and alarm calls. 

'Hopefully we'll hear the cuckoo – Dartmoor is a stronghold for them and the one we heard on the last dawn chorus walk was the first of at least three cuckoos who stayed around Belstone for several months.' 

Wear your walking boots for the rough bits and bring your binoculars, but please leave your dog at home. 

Suggested donations of £2 for the walk or £5 for the walk and breakfast will be gratefully received for hall funds.