Nocturnal Listening Stations - Update

A wet morning so chance to catch up... Both Wharfedale and Airedale listening stations in full production for some weeks now. Wharfedale during most hours of darkness throughout and Airedale for c four hours on suitable nights. A continued steep but exceptionally exciting learning curve for for us both!.... with the resultant sound files when opened being just like Christmas presents, full (sometimes, but often very sad and empty) of unexpected and even yet unidentified goodies. These roof top devices are with sounds, just like binoculars pointed into the sky with resultant magnifications in level at critical frequency of up to five times..... so no more uncertainty with nocturnal calls at the edge of perception which never come again as to whether your nose is wheezy or ears are playing tricks in the dark as spot on every time and with things you cant even hear unaided, when you play the file back.

Lapwings frequently over in January, early Feburary (Airedale) followed very soon by the shrill 'kubeeks' of Oystercatcher passage (Airedale then Wharfedale)... then by the enigmatic migratory call of frequent Curlews (Wharfedale and Airedale) echoing around through silent skies, Golden Plover (Wharfedale)..... together with a smattering of varied geese and swamp birds. The end of February saw (or heard) the first Ringed Plover (Wharfedale) and Redshank (Airedale) of the season.... Thus the season continues with Friday evening bringing a tremendous skein of Whoopers (Airedale) nearby overhead as almost certainly they tracked fast north. The streaming sonogram which I didn't see live cause I was at the supermarket doing shopping just exploded, lighting up like a Christmas tree before blank white and empty again. Its a good job they wernt right overhead as with the elevated levels necessary, they would just have blown the roof off!! Interestingly, whilst several other passerine contacts, no Redwings yet but hopefully, weather patterns permitting they will be up there soon on their way back home.

Thanks to Lester for prodding me into and reviving the interest I had years ago but now on tap, this nocturnal migratory stream, albeit just like the vis whilst a bit thin / absent at times is most certainly very compulsive.

Whilst I write the rain has turned to exceptionally heavy SNOW so the edge of the inclemency is nigh!... off to hang some washing out soon.....

Dave