Xeno-Canto is an online collection of bird sounds from around the world all donated and shared freely by sound recordists. Its an amazing resource accounting for 8013 species, a large proportion of all known birds.

I’ve started to contribute my own recordings, which can be heard here.

Lots of interesting projects and listenings coming up over the next few months.

On 26-27 May I’ll be helping people discover the rich and diverse voices of birds on a course for Wildlwise, details here. This year we’ll be based at a woodland camp on the edge of Dartmoor.

On 19-20 June I’m participating in the Home and the World Conference at Dartington Hall in Devon. Billed as a creative summit on arts and ecology it “explores existential questions such as: what does it mean to be at home in the world? what does home mean to us? how can we be more aware of our ‘inhabited place’ in the world? why do we all too often fail to understand the impact we have on the world around us?”. My contribution is an overnight sit and listen by the River Dart.

Then on Thursday 14 June I’m leading a walk called “The Wood between the Worlds” as part of the forthcoming Topophobia show at Spacex Gallery in Exeter. This will be a mix of story and listening related to the idea of “fear of place” on a night time exploration of Haldon Forest in Devon.

On Sunday February 26 I’ll be leading a days soundwalk with Wildwise around the Exe Estuary listening to the sounds of thousands of wintering waterbirds. The day starts at high tide at 10am at the quay in Topsham. From there we’ll walk along the banks of the estuary to the RSPBs reserve at Bowling Green Marsh where we’ll take in the flights of wading birds and wildfowl as they head back out on to the mud flats. After a leisurely lunch we will head over to Trout’s Boatyard for 3pm where we will take a boat trip along the river as low tide passes to get up close to the birds feeding on the rich silts of the estuary.

What to wear and bring: Warm clothing plus boots or wellies. Prepare for rain too! Binoculars if you have them, but not vital as we’ll be using our ears!

Lunch: To be confirmed, but there are a number of good pubs and cafe’s in Topsham.

Cost: £20 per person

Time: 10am to 4:30pm

Location: Start and end in Topsham

To book contact Wildwise on 01803 868269 or info@wildwise.co.uk

As part of the continuing series of Flittermice and Hoots walks, on Sunday, February 5 (4:00pm to 7:00pm) I’m leading a high tide sound walk from the Quay in Topsham, Devon to listen to the river’s birds.

Throughout the winter thousands of waterbirds flock to the Exe estuary. Every day, at high tide they leave the estuary and roost communally at a small number of locations around the Exe -one of these is at the RSPB’s nature reserve at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham.

The walk is on level ground and mostly on good footpaths. But please bring boots or wellies as one short section can be a muddy. Also – WRAP UP WARM! The estuary is one of the coldest places I know in Devon in Winter! Bring torches as some of the walk will be in the dark.

If you’re interested in making sound recordings, bring along a digital or other recording device as there will be many opportunities for capturing the evening’s soundscape.

Details and booking here