| About Geoff Sample | Geoff is one of the UK’s experts on birdsong and wildlife sound. He lives in Wooler in Northumberland but travels across the United Kingdom and abroad to make recordings. He has worked on a community audio project in Bedlington for the last year, in a scheme to be launched in June. He is also working on a major art project based on birdsong, to be unveiled at the Baltic in 2006. His recordings have been used in TV and radio programmes. Geoff’s interest began when he played in bands, and he’s worked with musician Jools Holland, and contributed to BBC Radio’s The Archers and ITV’s Cold Feet. |
To any nature fan, the dawn chorus is one of the wonders of nature. Very early in the morning, almost every bird starts singing its heart out as the sun rises, creating a noise better than any alarm clock. You can enjoy the dawn chorus in the heart of our cities as well as in the countryside. Each area has its own distinct dawn chorus depending on which species of birds are singing at the time. | "Whilst we were recording, greylag geese flew overhead and a blackbird really held court!" | | Allotment secretary Ralph Pattisson |
And now an allotment group has recorded the sounds so you can enjoy it without setting your early morning alarm! Top sound recordist Geoff Sample offered to help capture the special sounds that most of us miss while we’re asleep. Local allotments
 | | Stotes Hall allotments at dawn |
The Stotes Hall Gardens in Jesmond is visited by about 60 species of birds through the year including visitors from Africa and Eastern Europe. The list includes birds of prey – sparrowhawks, kestrels and owls, and migrants such as chiff chaffs, blackcaps and flycatchers. There are also nuthatches, wrens, goldcrests, songthrushes, and four species of tits. The sounds of peacocks, cock crows, ducks and geese,can also be heard thanks to nearby Jesmond Dene Pets’ Corner.
 | | Behind the scenes: Geoff sets up his kit |
Allotment secretary Ralph Pattisson said: “It was wonderful that Geoff has made available the wonderful experience of the dawn chorus. Whilst we were recording, greylag geese flew overhead and a blackbird really held court!” The allotments have a particularly rich range of wildlife because they're nature-friendly. Without pesticides being used, there are many species of butterfly along with other wildlife such as hedgehogs, newts and foxes.
 | | Geoff and Ralph relax during the recording |
About 40 families have plots on the allotment which is steeply terraced down to the Ouseburn. The riverbank itself is home to grey wagtails, kingfishers and dippers. More and more people are getting involved in tracking bird migrations and enjoying birdsong, thanks to the web making it easier to share the fun. You can take part – let everyone know what birds you spot outside your window, on the Bird Track website. | 
