A Song For The Witches

IMAGE: from FEEDER WATCH... 

Used to be called the OREGON SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pupilo maculatus), a name which I prefer, but then, I’m biased.

I’m also biased towards anything in twos, or duos.

“Above, below, always with two begins
the movement of our world.”

SPOTTED TOWHEE DUO, countersinging..l

Recordings made in Earley Woods, over a one week period in early May 2022

The Earley Chorus features a diverse range of bird and wilidlife, clinging on to  a woodland habitat that was once part of the private Maiden Erlegh estate. This was largely built over for housing in the 1960s and 80s leaving a small area of woodland around the lake and between the housing estates.

Despite ongoing threats from speculative property developers, the remaining woods still support a diverse population of bird and wild life. Listen out for red kite, woodpecker, finches, and other species. And beware of the robin!

Earley Chorus was originally live-streamed on the Locsonus Soundmap, along with other open mics live streaming around the world, as part of International Dawn Chorus day.

Tech info:
DPA4061 omni mics AB stereo pair w/ Rycote windjammers
Focusrite 2i2 audio interface
RPi Streambox V 4.0
Huawei R219h mobile router

220430 - EarleyChorus - QuietDaytime

220430 - EarleyChorus - MorningRobin

220430 - EarleyChorus - EndOfDawn

220430 - EarleyChorus - DuskChorus

220430 - EarleyChorus - Dawn

Because of my work with Nightjar, I naturally end up in similar habitat that Tree Pipit love, so I've come to really appreciate this species and the habitat that they share with my favourite species. This sound is best recorded during the dawn chorus, so I was happy to still have this guy singing at the dusk chorus and so late in the season. 

Gear: Sound Devices Mixpre 6 ii / Schoeps CCM 4 / Telinga Dish / Lom Usi Pro's / Rycote

Gavin Vella

Tree Pipit - MixPre - 5849

Schedule 1 Breeding bird here in the Uk, but we're very lucky in my county as we have one of the largest populations of breeding Firecrest in Wales. Like this recording as it also shows their assertive alarm type song, which is more monotone and slightly louder than their usual phrases. You can hear this on the second phrase. 

Gear: Sound Devices Mixpre 6 ii / Schoeps CCM 4 / Telinga Dish / Lom Usi Pro's / Rycote

Firecrest - MixPre - 5819

IMAGE: 1300 m. Ecotone where recording was made...

SWAINSON & HERMIT THRUSHES, side by side, WALLOWAS, OREGON

Composer. Writer. Photographer. Former conductor & founder of the ASKO ensemble. 

CURRENTLY on mt bike/ski/climbing trek through Pacific Northwest, working on a photobook about WHITEBARK PINE COLLAPSE and CLIMATE CRISIS. BASES in the WALLOWAS | AMSTERDAM | ALPS. 

WEEKLY photo/poetry updates at www.picture-poems.com & THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE new music, poetry & dance performance project at www.cs-music.com

ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT for progressive, tech-savy, instrumental virtuosi interested in dialogue & collaborative undertakings.

CONTACT cliff@picture-opoems.com
Or on SKYPE or FACETIME @cliffcrego

MUSIC? The one thing humans do,
that makes the rest of nature jealous.

Sarah Sparkes & Ian Thompson in collaboration

New tracks tagged #Bird Song