10/05/19. Black redstarts in Aulus-les-Bains before dawn.
I sat on a bench in the quiet narrow winding streets of Aulus well before dawn and waited for the Black Redstarts. In the background the River Garbet can be heard as it continues to empty the spring thaw down the valley. Black redstarts are quite rare in the UK; I had never heard one ...
10/05/19. Meadow above Aulus-les-Bains
Beautiful secluded meadow near Ustou, above Aulus-les-Bains; late afternoon. I sat at the edge of a boggy corner of this meadow and listened to the bees and other insects together with lots of birds. This is a short excerpt from the hour I spent there. Unfortunately, there were also lots of plane noises, and ...
21/05/19. Skokholm harbour tide, seals and birds late morning.
This was recorded just before noon on the track just down a bit from the lime kiln. It was a warm sunny morning; the tide was still receding. Lots of birds, and seals. The seals start their grunting, hissing, belching and singing around 2:25 on the recording. (Don’t turn this up too loud. It sounds ...
24/05/19. Storm Petrels and Shearwaters.
A magical thing happens on Skokholm this time of year as it gets dark. If there is no moon, or if it’s sufficiently cloudy, then some of Skokholm’s most precious seabirds become audibly active and eventually take flight out to sea to feed, or alternately return from sea with food. Storm petrels like to ...
24/05/19. Great Black Backed Gulls in conversation, Skokholm.
It was about noon and I was walking down the path from the harbour to the Lighthouse. Near “sugar loaf” I stopped to watch two great black backed gulls (I think they were, anyway!). They appeared to be having a conversation. It seemed mostly one-sided with one being very earnest and outspoken. At ...
24/05/19. Dawn chorus at the Well, Skokholm.
Dawn chorus at the well; just behind the mist nets. Recorded at about 5:00am. Dominated by wren and sedge warbler, and gulls. The sea too, of course. I think there is a woodcock very briefly in there too. Oyster catchers join in later. There is also the distant sound of foghorns as it ...
25/05/19. Sedge Warbler on the neck.
Short monaural recording of a sedge warbler on the neck at Skokholm. These lovely birds can be heard all over the island. The male changes its song regularly; apparently to draw the attention of prospective mates.
