A NATURE reserve in the Colchester countryside is providing a bolt hole for a declining species of birds.

Over the past 50 years, the UK’s nightingale population is estimated to have declined by 90 per cent, due to climate change, predation, and loss of habitat.

Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park is home to one per cent of the UK’s population of nightingales, making it a stronghold for the declining species.

Essex Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve provides a nesting, feeding and breeding habitat, supporting the species.

The reserve has proved to be an important habitat for them, as nightingales nest in thick, dense scrubs at ground level, feeding on insects.

Essex Wildlife Trust has recently noted the first nightingales returning to the site, and are now inviting the public to go along for a chance to hear the rare, migratory, songbirds before they return to West African in the late summer.

The best time to hear the birds in song is throughout their breeding season, during late April and May.

Renowned for their songs, nightingales have a rich vocal repertoire, able to produce more than 1,000 different sounds, compared to a skylark’s 340 vocal nuances and a blackbird’s estimated 100 sounds.

This is because the part of the brain responsible for creating sounds is bigger than in most other birds. The nightingale is able to sing throughout the day and night, with male birds even attempting to serenade a female mate.

Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park will be open for a series of ranger-led guided walks and free self-guided late-night dates, across the nightingale breeding season this summer.

Lauren Cosson, communications officer for Essex Wildlife Trust, said: “Fingringhoe Wick is one of the best places in the country to hear nightingales.

“With an array of trills, whistles, gurgles and crescendos, you will not want to miss listening to these amazing birds.

“We are incredibly lucky to have nightingales returning to us each year, and encourage the public to come and hear this unmissable wildlife spectacle.”

For bookings and inquiries, visit the Trust’s website, at bit.ly/3LsJ43n. Alternatively, bookings can be made by contact the reserve via telephone, on 01206 729678.