Lovely shots and clips, Curt. What is especially remarkable is the
distinctive ambience of fresh water waves as compared to those of salt
water coastal habitats. The periodicity of the waves (fresh water or
salt - storm or calm) is always unique, as are the pitch and timbre.
When comparing sites, it is even possible to anticipate the soundscape
from the rake of beaches. The signatures from each site are clearly
incomparable.
I can't help with the bird ID, though.
Bernie
On Jun 20, 2009, at 12:34 PM, Curt Olson wrote:
>
>
> Folks,
>
> About a month ago, I was making a shoreline recording at a sheltered
> bay on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The place is called Pebble
> Beach, the location for most of the classic photos of Split Rock
> Lighthouse, an historic Minnesota icon.
>
> Here's my own version of the classic/cliche photo, taken last summer:
>
> http://www.trackseventeen.com/images/DSCF3552_2.jpg
>
> Here's another view of the bay, taken the day of my recording last
> month, from shore off the left side of the photo above:
>
> http://www.trackseventeen.com/images/DSCF4695_2.jpg
>
> While I was recording, a smallish bird of prey swooped into view and
> landed in a tree branch about 20 feet above my mic rig. It perched
> there for a minute or so, then flew down and landed on the pebbles
> about 20 feet in front of my mics. I didn't have binoculars with me,
> so I don't have much detail to work with. This bird was slightly
> smaller than a crow. It did not seem to perch straight up and down
> like a buteo, but rather slightly forward. After checking my bird
> books, my best guess is that it might have been a Merlin. Here's a
> 3:05 segment of the recording. Does it's call give any clues?
>
> http://www.trackseventeen.com/soundblog/x090507c-pebble_beach.mp3
>
> Some of the background sounds in this clip include a 2-3' surf hitting
> rocks a couple hundred yards away, toward the right, and some gusty
> winds in the surrounding cedar and pine trees. (Unfortunately, you can
> also hear some wind disturbance in my mics.) And there might be some
> rumble from a heavily used state highway about 1/4 mile back from the
> lake.
>
> Thank you in advance for any input on this!
>
> Curt Olson
>
>
Wild Sanctuary
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