Lacassine Pool Podcast – the first audio postcard from my 2017 Nature Soundscape Recording Expedition. Featuring recordings I made in the coastal marshes of south-western Louisiana from February 27-March 1. © Lang Elliott.
AT LONG LAST, I hereby publish the first podcast of my journey, “Lacassine Pool”, highlighting a variety of recordings that I just made in the coastal marshes of Louisiana, in an around three National Wildlife Refuges (Sabine, Cameron Prairie, and Lacassine). Featured species include: Red-winged Blackird, Loggerhead Shrike, King Rail, Nutria, Least Bittern, Northern Cardinal, Midges, Northern Cricket Frog, Boat-tailed Grackle, and Common Moorhen!
Altogether, I spent almost three days exploring the marshes, both day and night. Most days it was super-windy … not at all optimal for recording pristine soundscapes. Nonetheless, by being persistent and doing the best I could under the circumstances, I managed to get a diverse collection of fairly decent recordings, especially during one somewhat calm and foggy morning at Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge … more than enough to create an informative “audio postcard” that shares the excitement of my journey.
Below is my best immersive multi-species soundscape, which I recorded during a calm period at a small pond at the beginning of the Loop Drive at Lacassine Pool. Reminds me of the height of spring in upstate New York!
Dawn chorus at small pool at beginning of the Loop Drive at Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge. Recorded around 6:30am, 27 February, 2017. © Lang Elliott.
A big challenge was finding time to put the podcast together. I ended up producing it over a period of four days, while traveling to the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas with my friend and fellow recordist Beth Bannister (I picked Beth up in San Antonio, where she was visiting her uncle).
So … here I am on March 5 at a MacDonald’s in Roma, Texas, not far from the Rio Grande. I’m hooked up to the internet via their WiFi, enjoying an ice coffee as I upload content.
Please listen to my podcast and let me know what you think of it! Constructive criticism allowed; destructive criticism tolerated; unbridled praise gratefully accepted!
Coming Soon — highlights from our brief visit to the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
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Oh, Lang. The Lacassine Pools recording just blew my mind. I live near Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in SE Texas – and your Louisiana soundscape is fairly near identical to what I hear in our area. BUT… last evening, after listening to this lovely recording, I was strolling along some reed beds next to Trinity Bay, and I heard the “Marsh Chuckler”! (Ixobrychus Exilis) I have seen Least Bitterns at the refuge a few times in the last few weeks, and even more times over the years, but it’s the first time I knowingly heard one. It was one of… Read more »
Love this one, Lang! As I am stuck up in the northeast, eager for spring, these marsh sounds feel like the break of dawn! My favorites were the Least Bittern, who you call the ‘Marsh Chuckler’! …and the mooing nutria of which I had never heard (had to check out photos of the critter on Google images) and the humming, buzzing midge cloud who graced your microphone with a nearby visit! That last one made me think of Keats’ “To Autumn” poem — “…then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn, Among the river sallows, borne aloft, Or sinking… Read more »
The nutria was awesome! Never heard one before. Though, very familiar with southern marshes and SOOOOOO enjoyed this podcast, hearing all my “friends.” A lovely way to close my eyes, drink my coffee, and start a Saturday morning. Thank you Lang.
As someone just getting into field recording, I found your audio postcard incredibly inspiring! Thank you for sharing your experiences and your gifts with us all.
Okaaaay – I’ll be on the lookout 🙂 Thanks Lang!
I’m very new here yet want to offer some feedback. The first time I tuned in the camera was on you and you were sharing the surrounding sounds and views. I think it would be great to here and there talk into the camera and show your friendly face. Brought it home when you did it previously. Thanks for asking 🙂
Thanks Diana. I haven’t shot any video yet on this trip, but may do that occasionally. So when/if I do, I’ll be sure to show my friendly face at least a bit!
Wow, was my first and last thought. You had an outdoor chorus line throughout those marshes. LOVED IT!!!
What a treat! Especially for those of us in cold northern NY. Thanks Lang. My first time hearing a nutria. And I still love those red wings. Beautifully done. Good travels.
Well done, Lang! Baptism under fire – and you’re finally on your way!! Have another iced coffee for me – and best of luck in Salaneno (sp?)
Did OK at Salineno, but now getting great material at Lost Maples State Natural Area, where the Barking Frogs are calling (to my complete surprise). Just had my first pristine morning, which allowed me to record using my super-duper SASS soundscape mike. Very pleased!
Lost Maples! I can’t wait for that one. One of my childhood go-to nature spots in Texas.
Hello Lang. Glad you have got on your way. Your two recordings posted today are really great. I was wondering if the sound picture could be a bit longer (About 10 minutes) and at 320kb/s. Looking forward to lots more recordings. Glad to make a donation too.
Wonderful! I never heard a KING RAIL before 🙂 I enjoyed this pod cast, thanks Lang.
The last few days & nights have been very cold here . . .the coldest all winter. 8 degrees one night 🙁
When I left Ithaca, I surmised that the brunt of winter was over in upstate New York. NOT! Down here in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, there’s lots of greenery. Feels spring-like, although birdsong is somewhat depressed (not at all like it will be in late April and May). I hope to get my next podcast out within a few days … before we leave Texas altogether.
Thanks Lang beutifull.
: >)
Thank you Lang! It went down to zero here last night, and your recording warmed me right up.
Zero? Holy smoke!
Thanks, Lang, We so enjoyed this Laccasine pool podcast! Also we really liked your commentary as well, since often I am not clever enough to discern which sounds belong to whom. This way we could just relax knowing we were hearing a nutria moo! Who’d a thunk that? Our coon hound was certain our house suddenly had new critters to hunt and was on super high alert throughout the entire recording. You and Beth have many wonderful sounds awaiting you, I am sure, in Texas. We look forward to your next soundscape surprise.
: >)
I agree with Lynn Faust about how nice it was to hear you point out which voice belonged to which critter! At first I had resisted the podcast format – the voice over to the nature soundscapes — because it tugs on the mind when sometimes only the heart wants to listen. But the payoff is the moment-by-moment guidance that our (Lang’s) voice provides. Now I love BOTH sorts of soundscapes. 🙂
I’m always interested in the sounds from the natural world. Lang, you’re recordings are wonderful and informative. Thank you!
You’re welcome Carlene!
Postcard?! Crikey, that’s a mini-documentary surroundscape! You’ve got some alchemy going on here because you present only sound yet I experience distinct felt sense (those winds and bending grasses), visual imagery (like old time radio pre-TV, we see in the mind’s eye) and even smell, those aromatic marshes. Vivid, lucid, lovely.
Yes… it is a bit more than a postcard, isn’t it? Probably not practical in the long run!
I am not likely to go to the swamps of Louisiana in my lifetime, but you have done that for me!
Thanks!!! We go there to see but often the best part is to listen.
A great beginning!
Dan: I’m happy with it for sure, but it was too much work. Maybe shorter, more focused “audio postcards” will prove to be more practical while in the field. I intend to experiment with different approaches until I hit on the right formula.
Wonderful sounds Lange! Brings back great memories of an April trip to the LA coast a few years back:) Who/what is making the distant pig-like grunting sound in the background of a couple recordings?…frog? Gator?
Great way to brighten this day of single digit temps here in the Adirondacks.
Pig frogs
lovely. My dog was asleep but jumped straight up. Where were these critters in her house?
An aural feast!
Yummy yummy!
Hello Lang, Another wonderful soundscape. I began my day with it. Thanks.