Dear Doug
I'm a natural history museum curator working in Derby in the county of
Derbyshire in the centre of England, UK. I seek help to identify a mytery
bird call recorded here last summer (13th August 2004). Local expert
ornithologists (including our county rare birds recorder) have not been able
to come to a concensus of opinion.
It was recorded at a brand new nature reserve on the edge of a heavily
industrialised part of our City, though adjacent to a main river corridor
and old gravel extraction sites. At the time we were recording sand martin
(Riparia riparia) flying in to a new artificial nest bank, and had no idea
this bird call had been captured until we had returned home and listened to
the tape.
What you hear is the full extent of the recording of this creature that we
made in
over a half hour period. The call seems to diminish, suggesting the bird was
moving off. Its recording level was as loud, if not louder, than that of the
sand martins we intended to record. Unfortunately we were not viewing the
nest bank or monitoring the tape at the time of recording. Indeed we were
hiding in a car some distance behind it.
Time: mid-morning, 10am local. Weather: cool, overcast to very light rain.
The attached photo shows the recording position. Just off picture to the
right is a brand new lake with islands to which we are hoping to attract
breeding Charadrius dubius and Sterna hirundo in the years ahead. This area
is very open, having only been hydra-seeded within the last 8 months. There
are a few very small clumps of newly planted reed (Phragmites autralis) on
the opposite side, though nothing nearby. We have already had one or two
unexpected arrivals since the site was created last winter, including
immature Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), so it is obviously in an
area liable to attract unusual visitors. Further site details and photos
can be found at www.prideparksanctuary.com
I do hope you are happy to receive recordings from around the world - this
point wasn't too clear on your website. My 87 yr old friend whose made this
recording with me is currently in hospital sufering from a stroke. It would
be delightful if I could visit and tell him that somone has identified the
call!
Many thanks
Nick Moyes
Assistant Keeper of Natural History & Records
Derby Museum & Art Gallery
The Strand
Derby
DE1 1BS
England
work email:
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<file://D:\Downloads\Mystery%20bird%20call.wav> Mystery bird call.wav
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Doug Von Gausig
Clarkdale, Arizona, USA
Moderator
Nature Recordists e-mail group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/naturerecordists
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