The return of Naked Noc-mig

Way back in late March, at the very start of the Covid lockdown, a few of us joined forces and kept each other sane by linking our garden sightings under the #BWKM0 heading. One of the unexpected side-shows was the effort that many of us put in to listening out for the calling of overflying birds after nightfall. This was christened (by Gavin Haig I do believe) as Naked Noc-migging - a reference to the fact that we were not using recording devices to check on the bird calls, but just our very own ears. The results were not far short of revelatory. Many of us added Common Scoter to our inland garden lists, plus other wildfowl and waders such as Teal, Wigeon, Brent Goose, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit - I could go on. It was enough for some of us to order sound recorders and microphones to take the 'Naked' away from the 'noc-mig’. I have yet to fall under the spell of the machine, but intend to start up the naked noc-miggery again very soon. After all, waders are already on the move. I know from the spring that there will be hours of silence (or at least a lack of avian utterances) but when a bird does call, the hair's on the back of the neck stand up and it is suddenly all worth while. I'll report back...

Comments

Stewart said…
Good Luck Steve, as you know there are many, many more birds available to call in autumn than spring...
5 July 2020 at 19:06
Steve Gale said…
Very true Stewart, and for longer!
5 July 2020 at 19:36
Gavin Haig said…
And of course, it's the only (and almost guaranteed) way to get Ortolan on your garden list. ;)
5 July 2020 at 22:03
Steve Gale said…
And best wishes to you both in the coming aural feast!
7 July 2020 at 13:50
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