SHELTERING FROM THE BREEZE NEXT TO KILCHOMAN CLIFFS
A ferocious breeze whips across the maritime grasslands onto the cliff-face in Kilchoman parish on Islay.  Carried on the breeze are the calls of Northern Lapwing, Red-Billed Chough, Corncrake, Wren, and Meadow Pipit. 
Recorded on the Island of Islay, the southernmost island of the Scottish Inner Hebrides in May 2012.  Open Sennheiser MKH30/50 condenser microphones in MS configuration, into an SD702 running at 48kHz-24Bits.

Sheltering from the Breeze at Kilchoman

IN THE CUEVA DE GUACHARO
The family Steatornithidae comprises just the one species: OILBIRD (Steatornis caripensis), the only nocturnal, frugivorous bird in the world --- a troglodytic sub-passerine, restricted to the northern part of South America.  These large members of the order Caprimulgiformes are colonial nesters, and a visit to a colony is a memorable, if somewhat disagreeable experience!
I sound-recorded this cave-atmosphere early in 2009, in a limestone cave system high in the Colombian Andes, after trekking across rough country, and forging an upland river to reach the colony.
These echo-location calls are possibly unique in the avian world, although far from euphonious. 
Reflector-mounted Sennheiser MKH30/40 microphones into an SD702, recording in MS configuration at 48kHz-24Bits. 

Echolocation Frenzy with Cave Atmosphere - - - Cueva De Guacharo, Colombian Andes

A SHORT NOCTURNAL BOAT-RIDE THROUGH THE AMAZONIAN VARZEA FOREST
Recorded in February 2009 in the Colombian Amazon a few miles north of Leticia, this nocturnal atmosphere captures the sound-signature of this magical world of water and forest.  The main vocalisations here come from amphibians, but there are also some bird-calls, insect stridulations, and human voices of the indigenous native people, along with the plashes of water, and noises from the dug-out boat.
Reflector-mounted Sennheiser MKH30/40 condenser microphones in MS configuration, into an SD702, running at 48kHz-24Bits.    

Night in the Varzea by Boat - Sounds of the Flooded Forest

INSECTS AND BIRDS IN THE COLOMBIAN ANDES
This long soundscape features the vibrant sound-signature of an upland forest in the northern Colombian Andes.  The woodland was alive with songs, calls, and stridulations.
I made the recording in January 2013, somewhere above the little Andean town of San Vincente.
I was armed with my customary Sennheiser MKH30/50 MS rig, into  SD702 running at 48kHz-24Bits.

Mountain Forest Soundscape towards Noon - - - Insects and Birds

ON SIMONSIDE, NORTHUMBERLAND
Fallen leaves agitated by an upland wind, the "pruking" of a passing Raven, Goldcrest feeding calls, close Chaffinches, and a calling Red Grouse introduce this moorland study.  At this late season, I am surprised to encounter aerial insects at this altitude.  A small party of Crossbills pass through, and dry leaves scamper in the draught.  Suddenly, the Crossbills are alarmed for some reason which I don't detect.
The wind seems to strengthen; then it drops, and the Goldcrests become more insistent.  After a lull, the Crossbills suddenly fly in close, giving some surprisingly musical notes in passing.  The lull persists....  The breeze again stirs the leaves, after which there is a thin, soft, musical phrase from a Robin, along with Chaffinch calls, and background "tacks" from a Wren.  Again, the wind increases, and this time momentarily almost to a gale --- following which there is a sudden revival in avian activity.  The afternoon wears on....  The Crossbill flock again flies in briefly.   The scene is variable: at times with close activity, and at others almost empty, but never fully so.  Later on, some mammal seems to scuttle by close, and a Mistle Thrush rattles briefly.  Finally, the Crossbills return.....

Field Recording October 2014

Sound Recording made with an open Rode NT1A condenser cardioid pair in approximately ORTF configuration, into an SD702 running at 48kHz-24Bits.

An Autumnal Afternoon in a Simonside Woodland --- Upland Birds in a Cold Breeze

ON A FULL MOON IN THE COLOMBIAN ANDES
A rather weird night soundscape with a heavy dominance by close insects, set against a repetitive avian songster.
Just behind this, one hears what sounds to me like a species of Neotropical dove, and further back still, what sound like the spirits of the dead, (although I'm sure they're not).   Also in the middle distance, the familiar calls of the Pauraque.
Captured at nightfall on 7th February 2009, using a Sennheiser 30/40 condenser pair in a reflector-rig, into an SD702 running at 48kHz-24Bits.

On a  Full Moon in the Colombian Andes

A  SCENE AT NOON ON AN INCLEMENT DAY
This day in June 2013 was distinctly inclement in northern Finland, but despite this, and on account of the thunder, I borrowed a pair of amazingly-inexpensive cardioid condenser microphones from one of my companions, and wandered out into the local woodlands to evaluate the suitability of these condensers for natural sound-recording.
I was deeply impressed by the results, especially by the clean, crisp rendition of the cardioid pair.
To contrast with the wind, rain and thunder, a few passerines vocalised, including Willow Warbler, Common Redstart, and Raven.
"T-Bone" SC140 cardioid condenser microphone pair, into SD702 running at 48kHz-24Bits.




Thunder, Birdsong, and Winds in the Kuusamo Woods

REDWING AND SONG THRUSH DUETING IN A BLEAK PLACE
It is late morning towards noon, and a stiff breeze tears through this northern woodland.  A Redwing in the foreground seems to engage in an impromptu duet with a Song Thrush which is singing in the middle-distance.  Also vocalising in this northern concert are Cuckoo, Brambling, distant Hooded Crow, a faintly-heard Mealy Redpoll, Black Woodpecker, and Willow Warbler.  
To me, the scene conveys a sense of weary desolation.
Recorded in June 2013, using open Sennheiser MKH30/50 condensers in MS configuration, into an SD702 running at 48kHz-24Bits. 

Redwing and Song Thrush in Taiga Woodland Pines - - - with Brambling

FOREST SOUNDSCAPE BY THE FROG POOL
Edible Frogs (Rana esculenta) fill the soundscape around the microphones, and a typical European woodland chorus provides the setting.   Blackbird, Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Robin, Blackcap, and Chiffchaff are all featured.  The scene is soporific, and self-contained, and the microcosm seems sufficient to fill the whole of creation. 
 A peaceful, leisurely afternoon scene recorded on the mid-afternoon of Sunday 29th April 2001 in North Eastern Poland, using Sennheiser MKH 30/50 condenser microphones in MS configuration, into DAT recorder running at 44.1kHz-16 Bits.  

At the Pool Edge

"DUET" IN BIRCH CARR
A Thrush nightingale is singing strongly in a sunken birch carr next to a rough track which skirts the south shore of Lake Siemianowka in North Eastern Poland.  A Golden Oriole is heard on the left of the soundstage, although whether this was the genuine article or merely a starling imitation, I was not able to ascertain on account of the luxuriant canopy.  In the far distance the careful listener may detect the cries of Common Cranes. 
Recorded on the evening of Thursday 3rd of May 2001, using open Sennheiser MKH 3050 condenser microphones in MS configuration, into a portable Sony DAT recorder running at  44.1kHz-16Bit.


Sprosser and Oriole

A SPRING DUSK NEXT LOCH RUTHANN
A trickling rill and a lowing wind.  Common Toads(Bufo bufo) in the close foreground vocalise against a chilly dusk chorus of  Robins, Blackbirds,  Curlew, growling Slavonian Grebes out on the loch, and faint, deep calls from a male Long-Eared Owl.
On the evening I took this sound-picture I thought the location bleak, but perhaps on a warm summer's afternoon the place may have seemed idyllic.
Recorded on the bleak dusk on 24th March 2002  at the Loch Ruthven RSPB Reserve in Invernesshire, using open Sennheiser MKH 3040 condenser microphones in MS configuration, into a Sony TCD-D8 DAT recorder. 

Dusk In the Lochside Birchwood

A WILD SUMMER'S EVENING IN RURAL FRANCE
This atmospheric piece was recorded near Lacave, Souillac, The Lot,  Southern France on the evening of 27th June 2002, using a Sennheiser MKH 3040 condenser pair configured for MS in an open rig, to a portable Sony TCD-D8 DAT recorder running at  44.1kHz-16Bits.
Hardly a night for a casual stroll around the village, I'd say....

Thunder and Rain in the Valley of The Dordogne - - - Towards Dusk in The Lot

A LEISURELY SCENE
Tree Frogs give repeated staccato-croaks as a soft breeze soughs across a boggy heath.  The odd insect drones by.  Against this accompaniment, Tree Pipits perform their song-flights, whilst Edible Frogs retch close by.  The afternoon is warm and soporific.  Somewhere in the distance, Black-Headed Gulls shriek over a boggy pool.  
Recording made in the mid-afternoon of Wednesday 25th April 2001, on a raised boggy heath near to the village of Urszulin in South Eastern Poland.   

Tree Pipits and Tree Frogs  on a Polish Heath

BY A POLISH REEDBED --- A PEACEFUL MOMENT
Is this a misnomer?   The harsh, jabbing, throaty croaks of European Tree Frogs lead the action, whilst in contrast, Fire-Bellied Toads emit their sonar bleeps.  A Water Rail stirs briefly and, although softly-spoken, Edible Frogs are audible now and then.  This short soundscape ends peacefully enough as the rushes sway and  and a Skylark sings.  Perhaps the title is an apt one after all?  Recorded in the later afternoon of Wednesday 25th April  2001, on marshland a few miles north of Urszulin. 



Tree Frogs and Fire-Bellied Toads by a Polish Reedbed - - - A Peaceful Moment

AT THE POOL EDGE
Here a woodland avian chorus provides a setting for amphibian vocalisations close at hand.  Edible Frogs call from a small pool in a woodland dell, and birds sing in the middle distance.  We can hear Goldcrest, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Blackcap, and Chiffchaff.  Towards the end of the piece, a breeze spirits through the woodland.
This sound-picture was taken on the peaceful Sunday afternoon of 29th April 2001 in secondary woodland near to the village of Bialowiesza in North Eastern Poland, near the border with the Ukraine.  

Birds And Batrachians from a Woodland Pool Edge in North-Eastern Poland

COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)
SONG IN DISPLAY FLIGHT

This sound-portrait of a Common Sandpiper on its breeding grounds reveals the insistent and highly rhythmic "sewing-machine" song, given  as the bird circles around the loch side just after midnight on the 6th June 1997.  At times, insects drone close against the windcage.

The atmospheric roar of distant breakers on the Uig Saltmarsh can be heard in the background, along with "bleats" from Snipe, and faint calls from Ringed Plover and Greenshank.

The title of the piece is the Gaelic name for this species, meaning literally "Fidler-Bird by the Loch".

Uig Saltmarsh, Timsgarry, Uig Penninsula, Isle of Lewis.

Captured with  a Sony MZ-R3 Portable MiniDisc Recorder, using a pair of Sennheiser K6ME66 short-gun electrets.   Note that this is my only Soundcloud item in which I have used electret microphones and a non-linear recorder

Fidhleirbord - An - Locha - Common Sandpiper

A companion piece to the sound picture "Seascape", which was published as Part Three of the "Skokholm Soundscapes" CD, copyright Wildlife Sound Recording Society 2001.  The present shorter seascape was recorded with the selfsame MS microphone rig which I used for the 1998 recording, but here the bitrate is 2304 kbps, some eight times the 282 kbps achieved with the MiniDisc recorder of last century.  The improvement in audio quality is readily discernible on good-quality replay equipment.  
The rising tide creeps in close below the strident cries of Herring Gulls, the occasional raucous voices of Choughs, some piping from distant Oystercatchers, and a note from a Rock Pipit towards the end of the scene.  
Indeed, it is the detailed sounds of the sea, rising and falling around the rocks of Old Red Sandstone, that lend a focus to this sequel on my earlier efforts.  
Recorded in May 2016, using Sennheiser MKH3050 condenser microphones in MS configuration, into Sound Devices 702 running at 48kHz, 24 Bits.

A Rising Tide In The South Cove

More breezes rustle the island vegetation --- inevitable on an island perching out in the Atlantic, away from the shelter of the mainland.    I recall enjoying recording this sequence, within sight of "The Wheelhouse", our base for the week.  The stirring of the reeds forms a backdrop to close vocalisations from Lesser Black-Backed Gulls, Jackdaws, a Sedge Warbler, Wren and Skylark, along with something mysteriously growling unseen in the reeds.

A  Brisk Midday On Skokholm By The Well Enclosure

Around 1650 BST on a windy day in May 2016
A Skylark sings above a tremendous roar of the Atlantic winds.  The shrill calls of Palearctic Oystercatchers combine with the drones of occasional insects, the falling songs of Meadow Pipits, vocalisations from Herring Gulls, metallic twitters from Barn Swallows, and the sharp notes of Pied Wagtails.
Listening to this short soundscape is by no means a recipe for relaxation!

A Blustery Northerly Breeze Across The North Pond

A member of the UK-based Wildlife Sound Recording Society, I have been capturing Natural Soundscapes for over twenty years, in Europe, Africa, Asia, and North and South America.

Ian Christopher Todd

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