Surround Sound III: What Time Do You Call?
It’s 4 a.m. Standing high on Wooston hillfort in the still night air. The full face of the moon picks out the trees on the crest of the Fingle gorge. It’s magical. Not a breeze or a rustle disturbs the meditative silence until a tawny owl reminds me of where I am. Stirring myself, I notice the horizon over my shoulder is beginning to brighten. A pale green-blue, highlighted with a tinge of amber reveals wisps of mist clinging to the hills and valleys in the distance. It’s cold and most of the world is asleep. I put an extra coat on and wander off to meet Tom. As I walk, the moon casts my shadow and flecks of light reflect from the waxy ivy leaves wrapped around ancient oak trees.
Talking in a pre-dawn whisper we decide on a good spot to set up Tom’s microphone. Our favoured patch of damp woodland provides a mix of wild habitats where a few tall conifers stand beside some patchy shrubs and twisted broadleaves. A diverse blend. Within minutes, right on cue, the calling and singing begins. Softly at first, the owls hand over from their night shift then song birds build up their repertoire … and the volume. It’s 4.45 a.m and the sky is getting lighter, silhouetting the spring-time leaves emerging on the trees. New birds join in the chorus, deepening the orchestral quality, and the last owl calls quietly in the distance.
Talking in a pre-dawn whisper we decide on a good spot to set up Tom’s microphone. Our favoured patch of damp woodland provides a mix of wild habitats where a few tall conifers stand beside some patchy shrubs and twisted broadleaves. A diverse blend. Within minutes, right on cue, the calling and singing begins. Softly at first, the owls hand over from their night shift then song birds build up their repertoire … and the volume. It’s 4.45 a.m and the sky is getting lighter, silhouetting the spring-time leaves emerging on the trees. New birds join in the chorus, deepening the orchestral quality, and the last owl calls quietly in the distance.
Sound recordings and birdsong identification by Tom WilliamsWritten by Matt Parkins
