Running Time:
189 min
Release Date:
December 2018
Recording Location:
Beaver Lake, Adirondack Mountains, New York State
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Adirondack Lake
The still waters of a small lake in the Adirondack mountains of northeastern United States reflect the first glimmers of the approaching dawn. The treeline and low hills beyond stand out against a paling sky.
Bullfrogs and Peepers have been calling almost continually throughout the night. Now this amphibian chorus subsides as the light grows. As we listen from the lake edge, the air begins to shimmer with the delicate sounds of passerine birdsong. It emanates from nearby forest and drifts across from the far shores - Swamp Sparrows, Pine Warblers, Olive-sided Flycatcher and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. An Common Grackle give querulous calls, and an American Robin is heard in sequences of sublime song. A coyote calls distantly, and later, the barks of a deer echo across the lake.
On this recording you can hear the scale of the landscape, as frog calls define the lake edge and birdsong echoes off the treeline. This album takes us into a still morning of listening, as sunlight slants through drifts of steam rising from the waters.
Andrew comments:
"I made this recording in the company of two of my closest colleagues in America; Lang Elliot and Doug Quin. Both are sensitive nature recordists and naturalists, and as each is based in upstate New York, the Adirondacks are their backyard.
"Doug has had a varied recording career, including making what I consider the single, most astonishing nature recording I've yet heard; Weddel Seals vocalising under the Antarctic sea ice.
"Lang is a deep-hearted man, with a wonder-filled curiosity and connection with the natural world. He achieves such beauty with a pair of microphones. He also delights in playing the clown, so our time in the field was filled with amusement at his goofery. I recommend Lang's 'Music of Nature' blog and soundcloud channel. (When you click on his blog, you'll see a link to his podcast series, with a photo of him peeking out from behind his beloved SASS microphone. Sarah took that pic of him mucking about during our time in the Adirondacks.)
"We spent several days out in the field, frustrated by rain and stormy weather. On our final morning, the sky cleared and winds stilled, allowing this recording."
Audio sample of this album
1. |
Part 1: 4.30am - Bullfrogs, Peepers and the dawn chorus |
61.20 |
2. |
Part 2: 5.30am - Sunrise, after the dawn chorus |
67.26 |
3. |
Part 3: 6.40am - Morning birdsong |
60.29 |
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