Delightful sounds of Spring: American Woodcock

By Laura Sebastianelli

Recorded at 7:45pm in light rain. recording begins with the bird twittering and feathers making noise on its way back down to ground. Spring Peepers in background.

Laura Sebastinelli

Microphone: Sennheisser ME66


A longtime friend of THE HOBBLEDEHOY, Laura Sebastianelli is a naturalist, ecological educator, sound recordist, citizen scientist, and active community member living near Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve
in Alexandria, VA.
Visit at: wildaroundus.wordpress.com/

Historic strike in Michigan, historic corruption in SCOTUS
Heather Cox Richardson | Letters from an American Heather Cox Richardson September …
“Cousin Caterpillar” by The Incredible String Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_gZu1xK29s Classic Mike Heron song from the Incredible String Band LP The …

A month in the life of The Urban Birder, David Lindo

Urban birding can be especially rewarding. City wildlife is used to people, so species are often tame and easy to get close to. Habitats are also usually smaller, making all sorts of birds easier to see.

Growing up in the capital never stopped me. I have been fascinated by birds since I was young. At the age of seven, I discovered a field guide in the local library. I read it inside out. By eight, I was an expert! Continue reading

Sounds of hope: Winter Wren

By Laura Sebastianelli

Background sounds: distant surf on rocky coast, lobster boat, light irregular wind, other animals: red squirrel, flies, Black Throated Green warbler, Northern Parula warbler, Dark-eye Junco.

Laura Sebastinelli

Marantz PMD561, 2 Sennheiser ME62s


A longtime friend of THE HOBBLEDEHOY, Laura Sebastianelli is a naturalist, ecological educator, sound recordist, citizen scientist, and active community member living near Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve
in Alexandria, VA.
Visit at: wildaroundus.wordpress.com/

Historic strike in Michigan, historic corruption in SCOTUS
Heather Cox Richardson | Letters from an American Heather Cox Richardson September …
“Cousin Caterpillar” by The Incredible String Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_gZu1xK29s Classic Mike Heron song from the Incredible String Band LP The …

Beauty during pandemic: dueting Barred Owls

By Laura Sebastianelli

Despite rain (light to medium at times) a pair of of dueting Barred Owls was recorded for over an hour (4:20 – 5:25am) this morning at the edges of west Dyke Marsh and River Towers, Alexandria, VA. This clip features roughly 5 minutes that includes 3 sets of caterwauling — calls described well by Birds of North America Online as “a raucous jumble of cackles, hoots, caws and gurgles.

Laura Sebastinelli

Marantz PMD561, Sennheiser ME66
BAOW 032820 450am 1035 Short Final


A longtime friend of THE HOBBLEDEHOY, Laura Sebastianelli is a naturalist, ecological educator, sound recordist, citizen scientist, and active community member living near Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve
in Alexandria, VA.
Visit at: wildaroundus.wordpress.com/

Out of Doors – A Robert Burns Special

Mark Stephen and Euan McIlwraith with a tribute to our national bard.

Euan and Mark speak to Des Thompson, one of the specialist advisors to the Grouse Moor Review Group about the group’s report and what the licensing of grouse moors might practically involve.

As we gear up to the opening of the River Dee for salmon fishing Euan hears about plans for the celebrations to mark the event. What we plant in our gardens can impact the wildlife that makes its home.

Euan finds out about the types of wildflowers we should be growing to encourage insects and birdlife. And as Saturday marks Burns Night Mark and Euan investigate what goes in to making the ‘Great chieftain o the puddin’-race’ with Dumfries butcher Stuart Houston.

And after 7 o’clock we focus entirely on Robert Burns and in particularly his time in the Dumfries area. In 1788 Burns moved to Ellisland Farm and built a house that he stayed in until 1791.

Mark and Euan take a look around and hear about what Ellisland would have been like in Burns’ day and which of his poems and songs were composed there. Burns was keen on nature and wrote a lot about the wildlife he encountered while farming at Ellisland.

Chris Rollie is an ornithologist, conservationist and Burns enthusiast who tells us all about Burns and his connection with nature.

The Globe Inn in Dumfries was a favourite haunt of Burns during his time at Ellisland and afterwards when he moved to the town. Mark and Euan get a tour from former landlady Maureen McKerrow whose family have a long connection with the pub.

And we end our programme at the Burns mausoleum in Dumfries, the resting place of the poet and his wife Jean Armour

Listen to this program at BBC Scotland: Out of Doors – A Robert Burns Special – BBC Sounds