Silence in the woods

[Chalk Downlanders]

I took a walk in Friston Forest last weekend. It wasn't until after two hours that I heard the first bird. Why are they so quiet. Are there any birds there?
It is mainy mature Beech trees with many others dotted among them. Is this a poor habitat for them?

Any ideas
kev

[henrya]

Isn't just that birds are always quiet in the dog days?

henrya

[canonman]

Hi
Maybe just to hot to sing, I know it's to hot to work, but they still make me do it.
Should be a law against it
Mick

[catalaze]

What time of the day was it? In hot weather, birds do become very quiet from late morning through the afternoon. Also, at this time of year, there wouldn't be a lot of birdsong in woodland. The first migrants are already heading south and the noisy tit flocks of winter have yet to form. It is, however, a good time to start birdwatching in and around the scrub of the downs, or in the adjacent wetlands. I'd abandon Friston Forest until later, if I were you!