This is a representative sample of the nocmig recordings (NFCs) that I make, mainly in east Lancashire. There’s no particular order to the recordings. I’ll arrange in a more meaningful way as the number of recordings grow.
Nocmig equipment
Most of these recordings are made with a Tascam DR-05x recorder, enclosed in a polythene bag to protect from condensation and rain, with a dead cat windscreen fitted over the internal mics. I’ve experimented with lots of different equipment variations and have destroyed two recorders due to rain/condensation damage so would not recommend using a recorder outside without moisture protection.
I’ve tried external microphones with mixed success, probably because I’ve only used low cost mics and cables. I’m sure good quality external mics might improve on the internal mics of the recorder but I’ve yet to find one. Much more important is wind protection and the quality of recordings will be much higher when a dead cat wind screen is used. Unless it was an windless night I wouldn’t bother recording without covering the mics with the dead cat.
I’ve also experimented with recording directly to a Raspberry Pi with some success using a usb microphone. This has potential for more long-term unattended permanent recording and something I plan on developing further.
I’ve also tried parabolic reflectors and I’m generally not in favour for nocmig recordings. The principle of a parabolic is to amplify the sound from a distant narrowly focussed point, but with noc mig the aim is to capture sound from any direction in the sky. In my experience, an omni-directional microphone placed against a hard surface (to get a bit of amplification from the pressure zone effect) has given me the best results.
Which is why I use the Tascam DRO5x. It is very portable and costs less than £100, uses two rechargable AA batteries which last a full night of recording and records to a micro SD card. I have a Tascam DR-40x which is a higher spec recorder but it doesn’t get used anywhere near as much as the DR-05x which is the sweet-spot for low cost nocmigging.
I process the recordings using Audacity on a Windows PC. I will add details of my processing workflow soon.
Moorhen
This is a typical and familar triple kek call, recorded at night, in Mellor east Lancashire at 23:00 on 24 February 2024.
Tawny Owl
In this recording a nearby male calls first, followed by a distant male. The female then calls and the distant male continues to call as the female flies off. Recorded in Mellor east Lancashire at 05:42 on 26 Feb 2024.
Oystercatcher
This is the familiar single repeated call with its characteristic “staple” shaped spectrogram. The image shows the two tone nature of the call with the first tone around 2khz rising to the second part around 3khz before falling sharply away. Wigeon have calls of a similar pitch – rising then falling between 2 and 3 khz, but they are more nasal, don’t have the distinct two tone nature and trail away rather than end abruptly.
Wigeon
There’s only one classic wigeon whistle in the spectrogram below and its the largest upturned V, but it shows the trailing second half of the call and doesn’t end as abruptly as Oystercatcher. Recorded in Mellor, east Lancashire on 26 Feb 2024 at 21:04.
Golden Plover
Mediterranean Gull
The unmistakable call of a Mediterranean Gull at 04:28 on 18th March, Mellor, east Lancashire. This is possibly a pair calling to each other as the calls are alternately closer and slightly further away.
Common Scoter
Common or Arctic Tern
I’m leaning towards Arctic (after first mis-identifying this as a Dunlin – thanks BTO Acoustic Pipeline!), on the basis that the sonogram lacks the harmonics above 3khz that Common Tern calls typically show.
