Here is a brief video clip of a Common Coqui singing. Note how he warms up with single low-pitched notes before launching into his full call: ko … ko … ko … ko-keee … ko-keee … ko-keee … I hope you like my coqui video. This was the only male I found who lent himself [...] Read more »
Coqui Retrospect
What a shocking change … in a matter of just six hours we transition from a humid tropical rainforest biome with temperatures in the high 80s (F) to a late winter north temperate snow-covered landscape with temperatures in the 30s. This seems almost incongrous, with coquis still sounding off in my head as a frigid [...] Read more »
Tinklers, Pippers and P’teekers
The Common Coqui (Eleutherodactylus coqui) is not the only member of the genus to inhabit the forests, fields, and roadsides of Puerto Rico. I believe there are sixteen species altogether. While I made no effort to search them all out, I did stumble upon several having interesting calls. My favorite (other than E. coqui) is [...] Read more »
Guanica at Dusk (nightjars & cloudscape)
While visiting dry tropical scrubland near Guanica on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico, we recorded the Puerto Rican Nightjar, singing at dusk. Bob got some amazing closeups and I recorded a relaxing soundscape that features two nightjars, along with the eveloping whoosh of ocean waves washing into the shoreline about a quarter-mile away. Here [...] Read more »
Coqui Magic Night
We arrived safely in Puerto Rico on Thursday afternoon and made our way without incident to the Casa Cabuy Ecolodge on the south edge of El Yunque National Forest. Quite a beautiful location, but we were disappointed to find that loud stream noise permeated the entire area … without doubt, we will have to [...] Read more »
Coqui Destination – Puerto Rico
After months of grueling computer work leading to the launch of our new online store, I’m finally breaking free with a weeklong journey to Puerto Rico, accompanied by fellow recordist Bob McGuire. My personal goal is to record soundscapes featuring a tiny tropical frog called the Coqui, the “official mascot” of the Puerto Rican culture. [...] Read more »
Twilight Tremolo
Eastern Screech-owls have an amazing array of sounds that can be quite scary when heard in the middle of the night. This post features several of the sounds that these little owls make, along with descriptions of what they may mean. Read more »
Mysterious Voices of the Night
In the world of nature sounds, mysteries abound, especially when it comes to weird and puzzling voices of the night. Check out this recording of squealing calls given by a "mystery animal" in someone's backyard. It even fooled the experts! Perhaps you can guess who is making this unusual sound ... Read more »
Memories of Spring (Pilliga Goodnight)
My last post featured the duetting of a pair of Grey Butcherbirds. Below is another recording, made at dusk in dry forest, that includes prominent songs of the butcherbird, at least I think. What I like most about this recording is the way it ends, with the songs of two additional bird species that I have thus far been unable to identify. Read more »
Grey Butcherbird Duets
During my last morning of recording in Australia, I managed to snag a real jewel of a recording … the musical song-duetting of a pair of Grey Butcherbirds. What a surprising and delightful "grand finale" to my adventure Down Under. Be sure to listen with headphones or earbuds if you want to discern the whistles of each member of the pair. Read more »
Magpie Composition
A true "signature sound" of Australia is the gurgling, bubbling melody of the Australian Magpie, a large black-and-white butcherbird of open country as well as forest edges and clearings. During our recent trip to New England National Park, I was very fortunate to record the contagious singing of a group, in farm country just outside the park: Read more »
Off to New England
We're heading for New England National Park, about six hours north of Newcastle. Until then, feast your ears on the following recording that I made last night in the Watagan Mountains near Newcastle, a pleasing zen-infused mix of sounds, featuring laugh-like outbursts of Kookaburras, the calls of two species of frogs, and the gentle two-parted hoots of a Southern Boobook Owl. Read more »
