A short piece from the greater production – first sounds of spring, snow and icicles melt. Recorded in Skobyanka, Sergiyev Posad.

Recorded March 11th, 2010
Published March 15th, 2010 (1.4 mb).

Today is the last day of winter, and with only one (theoretically cold) day left let’s move further south with the cuckoo song.

I recorded this bird at the Abramtsevo estate about 8.30 one morning in May last year, half an hour before the opening time to make sure no other voices but the birds’ will be heard.

Some two hours later I went to the bus back home with a feeling that a similar journey is worth to be repeated next year but a month earlier (when the birds are louder) and (hopefully) better equipped.

Recorded May 28th, 2009
Published February 28th, 2010 (0.8 mb).

Every year has its bright moments to be unveiled. The launch of this blog was the one of those moments to me in 2009. I’ve made my first field recordings even before I knew how to spell those two words, with my dad’s reel-to-reel recorder. A lot of things have changed since then but the simple pleasures of field recording are pretty much the same. This is the sound of grasshoppers on a very hot sunny summer afternoon, train whistles in the distance. Definitely something to be enjoyed on a cold winter night. Merry belated Christmas, see you in 2010!

Recorded July 20th, 2009.
Published January 31 st, 2009 (1.9 mb).

As winter comes, we put up a bird feeder outside of the window for so many years now, and this year is no exception. But in fact, there IS an exception as long as I’ve got mics and a recorder! So the other day I took a feeder that was my New Year gift box long long ago, then filled it with a proper helping of grain, attached a pair of mics with two clips each one to the opposite side of the rack and went to a discreet location (0:00). Within a few seconds (0:07) a tit came, but shortly after she has been driven out (0:23) by a couple of cheeky sparrows. They took her place forcing her to move to a less comfortable side rack (0:34). Sergiyev Posad not born but bred birds pecked, chirped and fought (1:00) but I have a feeling that the tit was the cool one here anyway.

Recorded December 14th, 2009.
Published December 16th, 2009 (3.9 mb).

If there’s anything that may spoil such a lovely scene then it’s the dipterous beast that is about to buzz over your left ear. A mosquito, smartly called Compact Dracula by a good friend of mine. The place is Abramtsevo museum estate once again.

Recorded May 28th, 2009.
Published December 11th, 2009 (0.3 mb).

Cold deserted beaches have always been something of a mystery to me. The place once full of joyful voices is of no interest to anyone now, completely. Empty sands under the grey skies, lonely lifeguard station, a few fishermen in the distance and the wind – a bleak Saturday morning in November.

Recorded November 28th, 2009.
Published December 6th, 2009 (2.1 mb).

A nice day in Vyborg. The first days of October, Monrepos park, birds crying upon leaving the town. My old voice recorder. This is the story of how insignificant tech specs may be when it comes to capturing a wonderful moment. Even now, two years after I feel how wonderful it is – amazed by the solemn beauty of this park way back in 2007.

Recorded October 1st, 2007
Published October 25th, 2009 (1 mb).
Since it’s not a binaural one, you don’t need headphones here.

P.S. Spot those birds at the upper-left corner of the enlarged photo.