Dans le marais du Daviaud, en Vendée, ambiance bovine. D'abord le broutage, l'herbe qui crise sous la dent, les souffles, puis des vocalises, qui vont s'intensifiant.

In the Daviaud marshes, in Vendée (France), bovine atmosphere. First the grazing, the grass crunching under the teeth, the breathing, then the vocalizations, which will intensify.

Tascam DR05X - Dodotronic parabole. https://on.soundcloud.com/b61Wy

Vendée

bovine atmosphere in the marshes

Ambiance bovine dans le marais du Daviaud, un 25 avril 2023

From dusk to dawn with two pairs of cranes and one or two single male contenders. In this recording you will hear almost infrasound (80-200 Hz) growls and heavy panting as the males chase each other in the wetland and of course the trumpeting of cranes through the night. An amazing experience to be this close. Huddunge, Uppsala. April 9, 2024.

Mixpre 3ii + Lewitt 440 Pure in ortf

Cranes like you never heard them before!

The Black Woodpecker has spring feelings and this droprig recording captured his drumming, announcing that this territory is his. Lots of other calls interspersed among the drumming.

Nåsten, Uppsala. February 11, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 as tree ears

Europe's largest woodpecker drumming

On hour without interruption at dawn at the Etang des Landes (Creuse, France). Already many bird species for the season. Water birds, then when the light comes on, a few forest birds. Small mammals rummage through tufts of dry grass near the microphones. In the distance, sometimes, flocks of birds take flight like a low hum.

Recorded on March 9, 2025 with a Nagra LB and a pair of Sennheiser MKH8020 in AB.

One hour at dawn at the Etang des Landes (Creuse, France)

Cette semaine, retour en France dans le département de la Lozère, sur le lac de Charpal. C'est une retenue d'eau douce servant à alimenter en eau toute l'année la ville de Mende. Situé à 1326m d'altitude, il gèle une grande partie de l'hiver et devient un lieu magique pour écouter et enregistrer les chants du lac. Un mélange subtil de craquements, d'explosions et de crépitements du au soleil qui agit sur sa surface comme sur une peau de tambour.

VSN013_FRANCE_Lac de Charpal_F Deroussen

Now is the time to listen for drumming woodpeckers. In this recording I have mixed all woodpecker species that drum regularly in Sweden. Three drums each and in the following order: great spotted, lesser spotted, white-backed, three-toed, grey-headed and black. Green woodpecker almost never drums.

Recorded in Uppland 2022-2025.

Drumming of all Swedish woodpeckers

Owls and foxes have an excellent breeding year so far this year. I hear Tawny Owls almost "everywhere" and this male and female were courting each other last night and paired at least twice (the high-pitched chirping). 

Uppsala. March 19, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272

Pairing Tawny Owls

On a bright and sunny mid-March day, the pond is warming up with sounds.
This is my most detailed recording of Corixa punctata (aka Lesser water boatman) to date.

Can the Lesser and Greater families be told apart through sound alone? Please let me know. What seems clear is that it is possible to discern between some lesser varieties, as demonstrated by Marco Presente in this recording:
https://soundcloud.com/marco-pesente/micronecta-sp-lesser-water

**The sounds get really loud and right at the peak of the Fletcher-Munson curve so please take care of your ears**

Species: Lesser Water Boatman (Corixa punctata)
Location: Middle Spernal, Warwickshire, UK
Date and time: 19 March 2025, 13h30
Habitat: Freshwater pond, wetland

Gear
Aquarian Audio A5s, Zoom F3

Ambiance bovine dans le marais du Daviaud, un 25 avril 2023

Olivier Swift

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