|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Last updated 21/08/08
A diary of sounds recorded with a handheld Zoom H4 recorder. Most are from walks near my home in Oundle, Northamptonshire.
I hope to collect a sound a day and post them here by the end of each week.
In case you want longer natural sounds, I have produced a high-quality CD of local spring birdsong - available here
I hope you enjoy the listen - comments and feedback welcomed email
JANUARY 2008 - double-click on the mp3 links to hear sounds. The recording date is shown at the end of each filename.
woodpecker010108.mp3 woodpecker by the river, misty new year dawn
pennants020108.mp3 floodlights at the tennis club, cables rattling in the east wind
wigeon030108.mp3 wigeon after dark at Snipe's meadow
raininthe conservatory040108.mp3 gentle rain, heard indoors
geese050108.mp3 geese in the middle of a gravel pit at Barnwell park
creakytreeo50108.mp3 creaking willow tree in a high wind at Barnwell
woodwalk070108.mp3 crossing a wooden walkway at Snipe's meadow
snipegate080108.mp3 wooden gate at Snipe's meadow
chaingate090108a.mp3 wide metal gate fastened with chain, towards Benefield
extractor100108.mp3 extractor fan at the rugby clubhouse
inthereeds130108.mp3 wind among tall (thatching?) reeds towards Ashton
raininconservatory140108.mp3 heavy rain, heard indoors - must fix that guttering!
stream150108.mp3 stream after heavy rain near Snipe's meadow, beautiful lower tones
greattit160108.mp3 great tit ringing out near Cotterstock lock
stream170108.mp3 same stream downstream
stream180108.mp3 floodwaters in the meadows
firstthrushingarden190108.mp3 first thrush singing in the garden - first heard a thrush in a hedgerow on 16th
windinthetreetops200108.mp3 wind in bare oak trees, north edge of Southwick Wood
tawnyowl210108.mp3 tawny owl hoot from nearby tree fork, stormy Southwick Wood at dusk
rookeryroost210108.mp3 Southwick Wood again, rooks circling before roosting at 5pm dusk, muntjac deer barks to the right
muntjacdeer210108.mp3 same muntjac deer barking, closer recording
tractortrailerandcockerel240108.mp3 tractor and hay trailer passing at Cotterstock bridge, cockerel in the background
windinthepines250108.mp3 pine trees in the wind at dusk, Southwick forest, seven red kites soaring silently overhead
creakytree260108.mp3 willow tree fallen across another, edge of Snipe's meadow
icecreamvan270108.mp3 Gino's ice-cream van along Gordon Road, Sunday teatime
playtime280108.mp3 morning play at the primary school
bumblebee290108.mp3 bumblebee trapped in the conservatory
removingfascia300108.mp3 workman removing fascia from house at end of garden, light aeroplane in the background
rainandhail310108.mp3 very heavy rain and hail on the conservatory roof
FEBRUARY 2008 - double-click on the mp3 links to hear sounds. The recording date is shown at the end of each filename.
electricfence010208.mp3 electric fence sparking by the roadside at Glapthorn, missing pulses, apparently random
ambulancehelicopter020208.mp3 air ambulance helicopter taking off from the football field, then straight over our garden
fireinthegrate030208.mp3 newly started coal fire
robin040208.mp3 robin at dusk, near the rugby club
fairlineautomaticgates050208.mp3 automatic gate warning at Oundle marina
manholecover060208.mp3 water sounds heard through a manhole cover at the pocket park, fantastic natural reverb
firstsingingblackbird070208.mp3 blackbird singing from a distant garden at nightfall, first one heard this year, closer blackbirds clucking
jayschaseowl080208.mp3 three jays chasing off a tawny owl in Short Wood
horsedrawnstall090208.mp3 horse-drawn basket stall leaving Oundle farmers' market
blackbirdandcats100208.mp3 blackbird singing at dawn, Pebble in a standoff with a neighbouring cat
recycling110208.mp3 glass recycling collection lorries in Victoria road
breakingice120208.mp3 walking in an ice-covered puddle, towards Biggin Hall
chainsawandgreattit130208.mp3 tree surgery in neighbouring garden, great tits in background then foreground
thrushbyriver140208.mp3 early morning singer by the river
ducksandgeese150208.mp3 feeding geese and ducks at Barnwell country park
rugbymatch160208.mp3 match at the Oundle rugby club
stpetersclock170208.mp3 Oundle parish church clock, 5pm
icymud180208.mp3 walking in fog on a frozen, muddy riverside path
dunnock190208.mp3 dunnock singing in garden, icy foggy 6.30am
bluetits200208.mp3 bluetits near Cotterstock
waterfromfield210208.mp3 pipe draining water from a field
christchurchharbour220208.mp3 a short stay at the seaside - gulls and land train at Christchurch harbour
wavelets230208.mp3 wavelets in the harbour near Hengistbury Head
wavesatmudeford240208.mp3 waves on the beach at Mudeford sandspit
wreningarden250208.mp3 wren in the garden at 7.00am
catpurring260208.mp3 Pebble on my lap on the swing seat
frogsinthepond270208.mp3 frog chorus in the garden pond - spawn first appeared on the 25th
marketbell280208.mp3 St Peter's bell from the garden, traditional midday tolling on Thursday market day
starlingsandwoodpigeons290208.mp3 starlings and woodpigeons perched on the TV aerial at 6.30am
MARCH 2008 - double-click on the mp3 links to hear sounds. The recording date is shown at the end of each filename.
creakingtree010308.mp3 ash tree in a gale, clatter of high twigs in the background, Glapthorn
sheepandnewlambs020308.mp3 sheep and new lambs on gated road near Benefield
RiceCrispies030308.mp3 Rice Crispies in the kitchen, 7am
wind040308.mp3 high wind in pine trees, Southwick forest
woodpeckerchaffinchandjet050308.mp3 woodpecker, chaffinch, and rooks reacting to a passing military jet, Southwick wood
lorrycarmotorbike060308.mp3 lorry, car, and motorbike passing Barnwell Park
blackbirdsinging070308.mp3 blackbird singing close by in the music school car park, 5.30pm
windandcables080308.mp3 high winds in a hedgerow, power cables singing overhead
cateatingbreakfast090308.mp3 Pebble enjoying her breakfast
bless the weather100308.mp3 biggest storm of the winter, waiting for Stephen in the car, Jon Martyn on the CD player
underthebridge110308.mp3 traffic crossing the bypass bridge over the river
windinwires120308.mp3 wind in telephone wires, near the tennis club
greenwoodpecker1303081.mp3 green woodpecker's yaffling call, near Snipe's meadow
streamandcow140308.mp3 stream close by, cow in the distance
bullfinch150308.mp3 gentle creaky call of a bullfinch, Southwick wood
drainageditch160308.mp3 drainage ditch in full spate after a night of heavy rain, Morehay Lawn
blackbirdanddiy170308.mp3 blackbird and hammering sounds, New Road
skylark180308.mp3 skylark above, wind in the hedgerow, towards Glapthorn
mallardandgreenfinch190308.mp3 mallard ducks and greenfinch (?), riverbank at Snipe's meadow
strimmer200308.mp3 neighbour's strimmer
oddnoise210308.mp3 strange intermittent wind noise in the conservatory
tennislights220308.mp3 lighting cables rattling in the wind at the tennis club
walkinginthesnow230308.mp3 walking in three inches of fresh snow, 7.30am Easter Sunday
tawnyowls240308.mp3 tawny owls, electric cattle fence, insect near the mike - Glapthorn 7pm
bellpractice250308.mp3 bell practice at St Peter's Church 8pm
marshtit260308.mp3 marsh tit, Southwick wood
bowlinggreenmowers270308.mp3 Flymo and rotary mowers at the bowling green
haytrailer280308.mp3 empty hay trailer bouncing along farm track, edge of Glapthorn Cow Pasture
junkinstrumentworkshops290308.mp3 workshops with 7-11 year olds in Oundle museum, making margerine tub banjoes
southwickowls300308.mp3 tawny owls near Southwick Hall, stream in the background, lovely wobbly calls at end
longearedowl310308.mp3 longeared owl in Southwick forest, answering barks from distant muntjac deer
APRIL 2008 - double-click on the mp3 links to hear sounds. The recording date is shown at the end of each filename.
modelcar010408.mp3 model car at the skateboard park
narrowboat02040808.mp3 narrowboat passing on the River Nene, chiffchaff in the background
wrensbyriver030408.mp3 wrens by the river
redkites040408.mp3 red kites calling above pines in the wind, bee and skylark, Southwick forest
blackbird050408.mp3 blackbird and woodpigeon in the garden
outfall060408.mp3 clean water outfall from the sewage works into the river
precinctsounds070408.mp3 outside the Grosvenor shopping centre, Northampton
cowschewinggrass080408.mp3 cows chewing grass towards Cotterstock
firstblackcap090408.mp3 first blackcap of the year, pump in the background, by the river
lesserspottedwoodpecker100408.mp3 quiet, chattering call of a lesser spotted woodpecker, Glapthorn
sirens110408.mp3 fire engine headed for the bypass
cafesounds120408.mp3 inside the hiker cafe
ducks130408.mp3 mallards circling overhead, Glapthorn at dusk
shepherdsquadbike140408.mp3 shepherd on a quadbike, Glapthorn, muntjac barks towards the end
barnowls150408.mp3 barn owls at 9.30pm towards Biggin, first squeaks are directly overhead, warning me off
robinsandpheasant160408.mp3 at the entrance to Southwick wood, dusk
rushdensupporters170408.mp3 Rushden and Diamonds terraces salute a goal by Michael Rankine
firstnightingale180408.mp3 nightingale at Glapthorn (+ tawny owl), wheeting and churring, not yet in full song
denmarkstreet190408.mp3 outside a guitar shop in Denmark Street, London
willowwarbler200408.mp3 first willow warbler in Southwick forest, robin, blackbird and blackcap behind
squeakyfence210408.mp3 wooden fence flapping in the wind
woodlandblackbird220408.mp3 blackbird at dusk in Southwick wood
nightingalesinging230408.mp3 nightingale singing on beautiful St George's evening, 8pm Southwick Forest
nightingalesfighting240408.mp3 growling nightingale close by, distant singer flies in for a fight, both fly off
deathmetal250408.mp3 outside a death metal club in Peterborough city centre, 9pm on a Friday night
blackbirdsandowl260408.mp3 blackbirds clucking in alarm, tawny owl squeaks nearby, Glapthorn at dusk
chickens270408.mp3 domestic chickens at Cotterstock
jcb280408.mp3 jcb doing building work off Benefield Road
skylarkascending290408.mp3 skylark ascending, with others, from a field towards Biggin, 9am
chaffinchandcattle300408.mp3 chaffinch with distant cattle
MAY 2008 - double-click on the mp3 links to hear sounds. The recording date is shown at the end of each filename.
sumerisacumenin010508.mp3 Mayday 7.15am, madrigals from Oundle School tower
cuckooandwarbler020508.mp3 cuckoo and sedge warbler, Snipe's meadow 9 am
lightaircraft030508.mp3 light aircraft passing overhead, by the river
woodlandsounds040508.mp3 from a wood near Benefield
muntjaccall050508.mp3 distant muntjac deer, unusually plaintive
ashtonpeacocks060508.mp3 peacocks on chimney stacks at Ashton, 9.15pm
cuckooandstream070508.mp3 cuckoo by a stream, by the rugby field
squeakygate080508.mp3 going through a gate in the deer fence, Southwick forest
blackcapsbytherive090508.mp3 blackcaps on Bassett ford meadow, boatyard tannoy in the background
farmersmarket100508.mp3 early morning at Oundle farmers' market
lawnmower110508.mp3 mowing grass on a hot afternoon
poplartrees120508.mp3 wind in a stand of poplar trees near Benefield
nightingalesandwarblers139508.mp3 nightingales and warblers, passing light plane, Glapthorn, 9pm
wadenhoebells140508.mp3 evening church bell practice at Wadenhoe, sound coming and going in the wind
windandsheep150508.mp3 sheep by a hedgerow in a strong wind
robinandfairground160508.mp3 robin singing at dusk, Scarrott's fairground on the recreation ground
fairgroundrides170508.mp3 teenagers enjoying the fairground rides
ravens180508.mp3 a pair of ravens in Southwick forest, insects around the mike
aerobatics190508.mp3 plane performing aerobatics over Cotterstock church
swan200508.mp3 male swan escorting its mate and two new young downriver
doves210508.mp3 doves under eaves off West Street
sidestream220508.mp3 side stream above Cotterstock lock
bowlinggreen230508.mp3 lawn mower at the bowling green
rooksandrobin240508.mp3 rooks and a robin near Southwick church, 8.30pm
quietmoment250508.mp3 the last few rings of the clock striking noon, then a minute's quiet in an empty St Peter's church, Oundle
stream260508.mp3 same sidestream as 22/05/08, after a day of heavy rain
bees270508.mp3 bees on a Laburnum tree, Cotterstock, 3pm
thunderatdawn280508.mp3 distant thunder at 4.20am
riversidesounds290508.mp3 afternoon birdsong in trees near the river, blackbirds, chaffinch, robin, weir in the background
grasshopperwarbler300508.mp3 grasshopper warbler, bird that sounds like an insect, Southwick forest 10pm
muntjacdeer310508.mp3 muntjac deer barking, pheasant clucks, towards Woodnewton at dusk
JUNE 2008 - double-click on the mp3 links to hear sounds. The recording date is shown at the end of each filename.
woodpeckerchicks010608.mp3 Lesser spotted woodpecker chicks in a tree trunk hole, Benefield
fridge020608.mp3 sounds from the back of the fridge
rain030608.mp3 rain sounds in the conservatory with the door open
duckandducklings040608.mp3 mother mallard and four ducklings dabbling at the water's edge, Barnwell Park
singinglesson050608.mp3 singing lesson through an open widow at the music school, heard from the churchyard
blackbirdsatdawn60608.mp3 blackbirds dominate the morning chorus, in the garden at 3.40am
weddingbells070608.mp3 bells before a wedding at St Peter's, late morning
cricketwicket080608.mp3 build up to a wicket taken by Oundle Town cricket club, Sunday afternoon
rooks090608.mp3 rooks in Southwick Wood
narrowboat100608.mp3 narrowboat travelling upriver, near Snipe's meadow
thrushgarden110608.mp3 songthrush in the garden at dusk, rooks flying overhead to their roosts
tennisclub120608.mp3 practice games at the tennis club
boatyard130608.mp3 work sounds and riverside birds at the boatyard
magpie140608.mp3 magpie at Barnwell country park
weirthrush150608.mp3 thrushes singing near a river weir
cuckooandwren160608.mp3 wind in the reeds by a gravel pit, wren close to, late cuckoo in the distance
windinleaves170608.mp3 wind in the leaves
windinwires180608.mp3 wind in overhead power lines towards Biggin
walkinginhay190608.mp3 walking through new mown hay
rowing200608.mp3 youngsters rowing a coxed four, followed by a safety launch
swifts210608.mp3 swifts flying over the garden, motorbikes and thrush in background, 9.15pm
warbler220608.mp3 reedwarbler, water pump in background
microlight230608.mp3 microlight aircraft passing by, still evening in Southwick forest
cornwaves240608.mp3 wind blowing waves through a cornfield
lockgates250608.mp3 Cotterstock's steel lockgates rattling in the wind
playtime260608.mp3 lunchtime play at the middle school
helicopter270608.mp3 helicopter flying right overhead
fireworks280608.mp3 fireworks towards Oundle, heard from the edge of Southwick Forest
windinblackpoplars290608.mp3 high wind on the edge of Fermyn woods
waterpump300608.mp3 draining an underground Victorian water storage tank at Sudborough Green cottages
JULY 2008 - double-click on the mp3 links to hear sounds. The recording date is shown at the end of each filename.
ducklings010708.mp3 12 ducklings on their own in a group, then the parents arrive
skatepark020708.mp3 near the skatepark, recreation ground
blackcap030708.mp3 blackcap singing at Barnwell park
catsnoring040708.mp3 Pebble the cat, curled up and snoring on the sofa
washing050608.mp3 the washing machine, early in the cycle
bells060708.mp3 church bells from an upstairs window
sideweir070808.mp3 side weir on the river after heavy rain
rugbypractice080708.mp3 rugby practice heard across the water meadows
raininhedgerow090708.mp3 rain and thrush in a hedgerow
insects100708.mp3 greenbottle flies around an apple core at the side of the road
reeds110708.mp3 wind in reeds at Snipe meadow
jazzconcert120708.mp3 outdoor Oundle festival jazz concert, heard across playing fields 1/2 mile away
deeralarmcall130708.mp3 fallow deer warning its fawn and bounding off, woodpigeons flapping, Southwick Forest 9pm
grasshopper140708.mp3 grasshopper on the riverbank, 10am
mobike150708.mp3 motorbike and car pulling away from traffic-lights, Mill Lane
dogs160708.mp3 dogs after dark in Southwick
chickens170708.mp3 chickens at the bottom of a garden in Gordon Road
doubledeckerbus180708.mp3 doubledecker bus pulling away from a bus stop
flags190708.mp3 Oundle festival bunting flags flapping in a high wind in the marketplace
hedgetrimming200708.mp3 hedge cutting at Barnwell park
redkites210708.mp3 red kite nest (possibly buzzard?), adult and very quiet chick calls, Southwick Forest
muntjacscalling220708.mp3 distant muntjac barks joined by another 20 yards away, warm calm dusk, Southwick Forest
snortingcows230708.mp3 cows approaching, snorting, then standing on the other side of a wire fence
boat240708.mp3 boat passing on the river near Cotterstock lock
thurningfeast250708.mp3 brass band and sideshows at Thurning feast
rushdenanddiamonds260708.mp3 first friendly of the season at Nene Park against Peterborough, 2-1
unknownbirds270708.mp3 attractive sound of unknown small birds, bullfinch in background, Glapthorn
grasshoppers280708.mp3 grasshoppers in Southwick Forest, 10pm
warblerandplane290708.mp3 sedge warbler alarm call and circling plane
stormdrain300708.mp3 heard through manhole cover at bottom of New Road
swifts310708.mp3 swifts circling over the garden, 10am
AUGUST 2008 - double-click on the mp3 links to hear sounds. The recording date is shown at the end of each filename.
creakyfrontdoor010808.mp3 sounds of opening and closing our front door
coversband020808.mp3 outdoor covers band and woodpigeon, heard from the back garden, 10pm
waves030808.mp3 waves in a cove near Porthsele
wind040808.mp3 wind and rain on the caravan
porthsele050808.mp3 porthsele beach
seagullds060808.mp3 wheeling seagulls inland from Pencarnan
boathouse070808.mp3 sounds beneath the lifeboathouse at St Justinian's
windharp080808.mp3 my harp playing on its own in a gentle northwesterly
choir090808.mp3 welsh male choir rehearsing in St David's cathedral
violin100808.mp3 solo violinist practising among the visitors to the cathedral
gatepost110808.mp3 hollow metal gateposts rattling and singing in the wind near Porthlidski
windincar120808.mp3 westerly gale in the car
stream130808.mp3 stream above Porthsele
oystercatcher140808.mp3 oystercatcher near the point
lifeboat150808.mp3 emergency lifeboat launches at St Justininan's
kettle160808.mp3 kettle in the caravan
zip170808.mp3 unzipping the tent for the last time
boat1808080808.mp3 boat on the Nene
robin190808.mp3 first robin of late summer, by the river
tabletennis200808.mp3 James and Stephen playing table tennis
merchantsbell210808.mp3 scrap merchant's lorry driving down Gordon Road, driver ringing a handbell
springfield220808.mp3 music from an open window on a warm evening
george230808.mp3 children playing and one man band in the George pub garden
aircraftandgrasshoppers240808.mp3 Southwick forest, 8 pm
sprinkler250808.mp3 automatic water sprinkler on allotment near the rugby club
robins260808.mp3 robins by the river
england270808.mp3 England v Portugal under 17s football match at Nene Park
grasshoppersandfish280808.mp3 grasshoppers and sound of a fish jumping, by the Nene
carousel290808.mp3 fairground carousel near Bournemouth pier
fireworks300808.mp3 end of firework display from Bournemouth pier, surrounding boats hooting approval
harp3100808.mp3 Paraguayan harpist at Northborough festival barbecue
SEPTEMBER 2008 - double-click on the mp3 links to hear sounds. The recording date is shown at the end of each filename.
starlings010908.mp3 starlings on TV aerials in Gordon Road