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Oundle musician charts a year in sounds along the River Nene

Oundle musician records a year of sounds along the River Nene

A musician and composer who spent a year recording sounds on his daily walk by a river hopes it will inspire others to "pay attention to what we hear".

Nick Penny, 68, recorded wildlife along the River Nene near his home in Oundle, Northamptonshire. Birdsong has inspired his own compositions for decades.

He believes tuning into sound can also help people see more wildlife.

"We watch screens all the time. It's great to feel the real air and listen to the real sounds," Mr Penny said.

NIck Penny KingfisherNIck Penny
A chance encounter with a kingfisher inspired him to chart the River Nene in sounds as the seasons changed over a year
NIck Penny Frosty skies over North Bridge, OundleNIck Penny
Mr Penny admitted recording was "quite tough in the early part of the year with the east wind coming across from the Fens"

The composer has walked his local stretch of the River Nene for more than four decades and has been recording its sounds for 20 years.

A chance encounter with a kingfisher inspired him to look - and hear - more closely, Mr Penny said.

"The sound of a kingfisher is a very high whistle, almost like a dog whistle.

"It takes a bit of learning, but once you do, it helps you see them because you can immediately look out and you might see it flash by on the river."

Nick Penny Green woodpecker in frosty grassNick Penny
The recordings include all sorts of birdsong including green woodpeckers (above), nightingales and owls
Emma Baugh/BBC Rich green reeds rising from the banks of River Nene near OundleEmma Baugh/BBC
He found the changes in sound as the seasons turned "endlessly fascinating", with migrant birds joining native species

The composer, who has presented a programme on the science of sound for Channel 4 and been interviewed by Lauren Laverne for BBC Radio 6 Music's Supernature feature, has published a book about his year recording the wildlife along the river.

In it, he reflects on the importance of birdsong when so much modern life is affected by noise pollution.

NIck Penny RobinNIck Penny
The composer hopes his book will encourage people "to pay more attention to what we hear"

Mr Penny said: "It's just such a magical thing, being out in the open, listening to bird song, looking at flowers - and it's free.

"Maybe just sit for 10 or 15 minutes if you can and you'll be surprised how many things might be going on really close to you that you wouldn't normally notice."

Instead of illustrations, the book has a QR code to enable readers to hear the recordings.

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