view into the garden: birch tree in the rain
We don't get many thunderstorms here in the hilly country of Mid Wales, but we've had a few recently during a warm dry period. So, if I'm at home, I've been rushing out with my sound recording equipment whenever I hear a rumble, always hoping to get a good recording! This Sunday evening, I got lucky. Placing the microphones in a North facing loft doorway of a barn I managed to record a well balanced combination of rolling thunder, heavy rain and a few birds singing in trees directly opposite.
The recording opens with the sound of steady rain and the distant rumble of thunder. A blackbird can be heard singing a little way off across the yard. We also hear the calls of Crows, a Swallow, and a few sheep, startled by the sudden rain. As the storm gets closer, the rain increases and starts to fall heavily on the nearby foliage (with some drips directly onto the Left channel microphone!). A Jackdaw and one or two Blackbirds call from nearby. Then, at around 8 minutes, a Song Thrush alights on a nearby tree and begins to sing its repeated phrases, seemingly oblivious of the storm! A Blackbird joins in with a more free-form melody and the duet continues for a while with the harsh "tic calls" of a Robin heard as the rain builds. At 19'30, the Robin takes centre stage close by with his cheerful strident song. The thunder rumbles, Blackbird and Robin continue, and gradually the storm passes by...
Recorded: 2023-06-17 2000...2200
Location: 52.2, -3.5 (approx)
Download full length recording:
30 min, 65MB, .ogg format
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