LOCAL people are invited to meet at Castle Archdale at 5am on Saturday, May 3, to listen to the birds welcome the new day in fine voice.

Expert guidance from the RSPB local group and Fermanagh staff will help you identify which birds you can hear during the dawn chorus – from migrants like willow warbler, blackcap and chiff chaff as well as resident breeding birds like robin, wren, dunnock, chaffinch and song thrush.

You will also learn about the work the charity does at Lower Lough Erne to help give birds and wildlife a home, particularly threatened breeding waders like lapwing and snipe.

After such an early start, the event will finish around 8am with a delicious breakfast at Mahon’s Hotel in Irvinestown.

The event costs £10 per adult/£6 for RSPB members and £2 for children. A family ticket (2 adults and 3 children) is £22 and all prices include a cooked breakfast.

 Booking is essential by calling 028 9049 1547 or emailing amy.ryan@rspb.org.uk. Visit facebook.com/rspbni for more details.

*The RSPB’s Fermanagh local group’s next meeting is on Tuesday, April 29 at 8pm in St Macartin’s Cathedral church hall. The speaker will be Ethel Irvine and the topic is beekeeping. All are welcome to attend, admission £3.