Bradt - Call Of The Kingfisher

Beskrivelse

Call of the Kingfisher is the captivating debut from Nick Penny, a composer and wildlife recordist. This book is a heartfelt tribute to a small stretch of the River Nene in Northamptonshire, focusing especially on the vibrant kingfishers that inhabit the area.

A year-long journey along the River Nene, exploring its wildlife, history, and natural beauty.

Nick Penny has spent four decades walking beside the river at Oundle, but for an entire year, he devoted himself fully to the waterway. The more time he invested, the more he encountered the kingfishers, drawn in by their distinctive high-pitched calls.

Set in a charming yet lesser-known part of England, this book shares a year spent by the river, capturing Nick’s personal experiences and the diverse people he meets along the way. The story weaves together the elusive kingfisher’s presence with rich explorations of local history and landscape, from ancient Roman and Bronze Age sites to historic watermills and centuries-old stone churches.

Readers are also taken on visits across different seasons and locations within the valley, alongside tributes to naturalists who once lived nearby. The narrative is alive with moments of forest dawns and dusks, where the precious songs of nightingales fill the air.

Throughout, the riverbank’s sights and sounds create a vivid backdrop, painted in greens and browns and highlighted by the striking blue and orange flashes of the kingfisher’s feathers.

With his background as a composer and wildlife recordist, Nick brings a unique sensitivity to the natural soundscape. He draws inspiration from the local environment and offers fresh perspectives on the countryside’s auditory world.

The book also features bonus audio content accessed via QR codes, allowing readers to listen to high-quality recordings captured along the River Nene. These soundbites showcase nature’s richness, from kingfishers and nightingales to owls and cuckoos, enhancing the immersive experience of the text.

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