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Dawn Chorus composition recorded at Low Way Farm and Parkend Woods, Holwick,  Middleton-in-Teesdale. I worked with a group of young people on a two day residential and Kerryanne Higgens, Engagement Officer for Tees-Swale Naturally Connected, to record the Dawn Chorus.We created a unique North Pennines flavoured Dawn Chorus full of unexpected Curlew and Oyster Catcher calls. These birds call relentlessly at this time of year so they were calling through night and into the early hours. There was a fantastic aurora borealis with really strong colours the evening before the first day of recording.

This was timed to be as close as possible to World Dawn Chorus Day (5th May this year) – the time of year when the dawn chorus is at its fullest. Sun rise was at 4.30am so we woke up, carried out a sound walk and made a set of recordings at 4am.

Drop rigs were also left recording overnight. I created an AB recording set up with lyres and clippy mics inside a Rode blimp for wind protection.

This recording starts at night, it features sounds of the night like bats (recorded using bat detectors), hooting owls, an intense thunder storm and rain that eventually clears. The dawn chorus then gradually starts to build as more and birds wake and begin to sing.

Recording took place from 10th through to the 14th May 2024.