Marty's posting that he was recording at/near Monomoy brings up a good
subject for discussion.
What methods/tricks/techniques do you all use at the shore? I only get to
one about once a year, at best --- usually on an island, about 4 miles SW of
where Marty was. Because my visits to the shore are rare, irregular, and
brief, almost any comments or suggestions you could offer would improve my
efficiency and results when I do get there.
I'd appreciate special shore-related suggestions concerning the following
topics (among others)
1. Ideas for protection of equipment from blowing sand
2. Getting close enough to shorebirds to record them w/o flushing them.
Anyone use blinds? I'm sure there's lots of field craft to be learned here,
maybe even from photographers. Suggestions on timing of recording relative
to tides/water level, bird's arrival on the flats, feeding vs. roosting etc.
would be extremely valuable to me and (I imagine) others.
3. Recording near breaking surf. (Any better suggestions than "get close,
get upwind and point the mic. away from the waves"? I'm not expecting to
break the laws of physics, but still I'm sure there's lots I haven't
considered here.)
(Marty: My sympathy! This spring, for the _N+1_st time, I followed
Black-bellied Plover across fields hoping they'd vocalize. Would they were
Whimbrels, silent or not !--- I'm in SW Ohio.)
Thanks!
Steve P
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