Officers at the National Park Authority are opening a window to the Dales to help bring the outdoors inside while Covid-19 measures are in place.
The latest offering is a piece of ‘slow radio’ featuring the calls of the curlew and a striking encounter with a kestrel, recorded over the past week (during an officers’ one-hour exercise walks)
It’s recommended to listen with headphones and eyes closed:
To learn more about the curlew, which, soberingly, has the same international conservation status as the jaguar, see this post by curlew specialist Ian Proudler.
Our wildlife conservation officer Ian Court has been surprised by how often buzzards pass over his ‘airspace’.
By night there is plenty to look at too.
And find out more about the collective work of the Northern Upland Chain Local Nature Partnership to secure curlews in the northern uplands for generations to come
Lovely, thank you. The call is the curlew always reminds me of moorland walks in Yorkshire as a child with my late parents. Hauntingly beautiful.
I love this Andy – What time was it. I think you should make a series of these, bringing all your audio craft into play. Devoted, like this, to particular birds, mapping the Dales through bird song. Your voice is magic. Years ago now, I was once leaving Lu’s parents’ place very early on a spring morning in Northamptonshire – 4.30am – and I caught the amazing dawn chorus – it bowled me over so I couldn’t resist recording it – I’ll send you a link
I have never been to the Yorkshire dales and never heard a curlew before, it is magical and I really enjoyed your recording, I felt I was there with you !
Brilliant if and when we get through all this I shall make a point of visiting your beautiful part of the country.
Well done, it does lift the spirit.
Best wishes
This was magical. I could also somehow hear the night in the background, and that plaintive call of the curlew. Endorse Chris’ comment; Andy’s voice draws you in.
I loved the alternating calls of the kestrel and curlew, with the owl putting an occasional appearance.
I have seen curlews here in East Sussex at Rye Harbour and the Pett levels near by.
Thank you Andy for introducing me to the Yorkshire Dales national website
Mary Jane Rawlence
Wonderful Ian! I live in Coverdale and regularly see and hear Curlews on the moors above the village – it is probably the most haunting sound of the uplands. We also have Tawny Owls calling most nights and a surprising number of Buzzards flying overhead. We have even had 2 Red Kites land in our field. The Yorkshire Dales are a truly magical place! This is why I became a Dales Volunteer some 18 years ago, when I retired up here.
I stumbled across this site as I was doing some research for my children’s novel set in London. It has an environmental aspect and I was looking for a beautiful part of England that I know from T.V. and British mysteries. So I found the Yorkshire dales and behold the curlew. In Canada we have the loon which stops you in your tracks. Thank you for looking out for our fellow creatures. Victoria, British Columbia