Local Crossword

[WTW]

Early bird (4)

_ A _ N (DAWN?)

Drama coach (5)

_ T _ G _

Add herbs that have been trimmed by mum (7)

G _ R _ _ S _ (must be GARNISH, but why?)

[paulineward]

Stage?

[WTW]

Many thanks paulineward.

[shammydodger]

GARNISH

Garni = a term for a bunch of herbs (as in bouquet garni)

Sh = keep mum

Put them together = Garnish (i.e. add to something)

[WTW]

Well done shammydodger.

[hippocampus]

Is the N definitely right for the first one because a lark is an early bird?

[WTW]

Yes, as I have the N from LORGNETTE (Handled spectacles). I wondered about DAWN, because of dawn chorus.

[hippocampus]

Oh well, back to the drawing board. Like you, I'm not too convinced by dawn but can't think of an appropriate 4 letter bird.

[shammydodger]

Is this a fully cryptic crossword, WTW, or a mixture of cryptic and straight?

If it's purely cryptic, as suggested by the first 2 solutions we've provided, then it's possibly not the name of a bird at all. I started to think along the lines of "bird" being a term, possibly slang, for something totally different. I know it's a slang term for doing time in gaol. Anything else it could be?

[WTW]

It is, in the main, a cryptic crossword. I agree with you that the answer will more likely be the term for something else, rather than the name of a bird.

I can't help feeling that DAWN (as in dawn chorus) will turn out to be the answer.

[hippocampus]

Of course, bird could just be slang for a girl, in which case DAWN fits nicely.

[shammydodger]

Hippo

Agreed. Goodnight!

[FoxLee]

Going with the Dawn chorus idea, could the 'bird' be referring to a girl?

[WTW]

Many thanks to you all. I will go with DAWN (so to speak!)