gregweddig.net

This is part two of the Nature Sounds Society summer workshop field report:

Sunday Morning we had an early 4:30am start up at Yuba Pass, dawn chorus, there are a few pretty loud Song Sparrow calls (at 3:19-LOUD) early in the recording also woodpeckers, and many others that I have yet to identify.  The microphone array you are hearing is ORTF, though I also recorded a rear Blumlein pair.  Please post if you are interested in hearing it.

Late morning as the group dispersed we visited Madora Lake which seems to be a stream fed lake though it may be a man-made spring.    This stereo track was derived from a 4 channel, double MS recording.  There are American Coots, Red-winged Blackbirds, Bullfrog and a persistently chipping that seemed to be a MacGillivray’s Wabrler.  After this successful recording location and a small picnic lunch the 2009 Nature Sounds Society workshop came to a close.  The recording below was originally part of a double MS recording on the gregga tree.

These NSS recordings and photos by GT Weddig is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

At the end of June I attended the annual workshop put on by the Bay Area based Nature Sounds Society.  Although this years workshop was lightly attended it allowed greater flexibility and mobility in selecting recording locations and activities.  Dan and Sharon led us through through the expected amazing sessions that touch on art, education, listening, activism and hands on construction.

I have been to the workshops in past years but this year was a bounty of new recording locations surrounding the Yuba Pass/Sierra Valley area of Northern California.

Friday night we had a interesting presentation by hummingbird researcher Chris Clark on the tail noises that occur during mating.

Saturday Morning:

Sierra Valley 4:30 am brought out a bunch of tired lightly caffinated recordists to the usual spot at Marble Hot Springs, the scenery  did not dissapoint.  Somehow I felt that the diversity of species was not a large as it had been in previous years but it was still an enjoyable morning.  I think you hear in this recording Wilson’s Snip, Marsh Wren, American Bittern, Red-winged Blackbird among others.  This is an ORTF soundscape using Schoeps MK-21 sub-cardioid capsules.

The time is 6:20, we are still in Sierra Valley at the Marble Hot Springs Bridge, the predominant callers are Cliff Swallows, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Bullfrog, American Coot, Western Meadowlark, and the domesticated cow (distant).   This is an ORTF soundscape using Schoeps MK-21 sub-cardioid capsules.

After breakfast in a picturesque mosquito covered highway rest area we were off scouting a new recording location.  It was reported that Carman Valley is in the process of having it’s wetland restored in collaboration with the local ranchers (and land owners).  Most of the recording at this location is a pastoral morning soundscape, but the end of the recording the Scrub Jays were acting up, so that is what you get to hear.  From my perspective this will be a popular stop on future recording trips.  This is an ORTF soundscape using Schoeps MK-21 sub-cardioid capsules.

These recordings and photos by GT Weddig is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.