Sounds Natural's wildlife audio productions are unique in their radio feature format and interview technique and are mostly recorded out and about on location. Producer and interviewer Ken Jackson has worked freelance for BBC Radio for over 25 years, principally as presenter for BBC World Service's 'Nature Notebook' and 'Nature Now'.
Although we have 120 audio and video titles, and some 30 slide sets or slide/audio productions - covering a wide range of animals, plants, countryside, drama, poetry, heritage and history topics - the list below is a list of the audio titles which, so far, sell best. Most of the productions are between 42 and 70 minutes in length and most have a relaxed identifying and informative commentary, although some of the most popular have natural sounds on their own and no human voices.
Unless otherwise stated, CD's are £12.50, single cassettes are £6.50, double/twin packs (where available) come at a saving of £1.00. Please add 50p per item for delivery; orders worth £36.00 or more have no delivery charge. To order, or for any other enquiries, please email us at pete@onm1.demon.co.uk. For ordering, please note that if you can include your name, contact telephone number and preferred medium (CD or cassette), the shipping process can be very much speeded up.
Audio titles are catagorized as follows (please click on any item of interest):
Sounds Natural also has voice studio recording facilities in the UK, and will
undertake made-to-measure audio productions, including on-site heritage, art
and natural history audio interpretation - sound FX and audio tours, using
Walkman cassette players or random access digital wands.
| SN 852 |
Spring Garden Birds Only Sit back and listen to such birds as Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Robin, Wren etc., as they perform uninterrupted by any identifying commentary. Just the thing for relaxing at the end of a hard day, or listening to in the middle of winter. |
| SN 857 |
Summer Garden Birds Only More mid-winter listening to bring back the joys of summer. This copies the format and some of the birds of SN 852, but also includes a selection of warblers - Willow, Garden, Blackcap, Nightingale, Chiffchaff - and Swallow, House Martin, Swift and Cuckoo. Like SN 852, this provides great listening in the car, especially in stressful traffic jams! |
| SN 863b |
Dawn Birdsong A birds-only version of SN 863 featuring the same birds with the addition of Turtle Dove. Again, just the thing for relaxed listening at home or in a motorway tail back or city traffic jam. |
| SN 876 |
Woodland Sounds A greater concentration of songs and calls than SN 852, SN 857 and SN 863b in that it is a collage put together in the studio from previous titles and new material to represent woodland activity throughout the year. As well as 36 species of birds there are some mammals calling and a bit of a bumble bee. |
| SN 858 |
Wildfowl Talking A blend of some 30 species of swans, geese, duck and flamingos, mainly recorded at five Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centres - Slimbridge, Arundel, Martinmere, Welney and Caerlaverock - and at the Flamingo Gardens near Olney, as well as in the wild. |
| SN 885 |
The Sound of the Sea The sea lapping and breaking on the shore. Recorded at Ayr in Scotland, Jersey and Cyprus. |
| SN 886 |
The Sound of the Sea with Shore Birds The sea lapping and breaking on the shore, with a selection of shore birds - gulls, wildfowl and wader - heard at intervals. Mainly recorded at Ayr in Scotland. |
| SN 867 |
East African Sounds A variety of natural sounds from eastern Africa. |
| SN 986 |
The Sound of Muck A collection of sounds - wildlife, sea, weather and farm - recorded on location on the island of Muck, in the Inner Hebrides, during the course of five wonderful days in June. |
| SN 879 |
Beginning Birdsong A detailed listen-in to 12 of our common species, with a minimum of narration to identify each. Duration is 42 minutes, with each species performing from between around 2 minutes up to 5 and a half minutes. Birds covered are: Blackbird (+ calls), Mistle Thrush (+ calls), Song Thrush (including mimic), Robin, Blue Tit, Wren, Dunnock, Greenfinch, Great Tit (+ calls), Skylark, Willow Warbler and Chaffinch (+ calls and Willow Warbler's call). |
| SN 884 |
Continuing Birdsong A follow-up to SN 879, using the same format of long bands of each species with minimum identification. Featuring 15 species - Swift, Swallow, Chiffchaff, Curlew, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Spotted Flycatcher, Yellowhammer, Bullfinch, Jackdaw, Tawny Owl, Starling, Cuckoo, House Sparrow and Nightingale. |
| SN 889 |
Confusing Pairs of Birdsong The third in the series of 'Beginning Birdsong', using the same extended recordings with minimal identifying and commentary and featuring such 'twins' as Blackcap and Garden Warbler, Rook and Carrion Crow, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, etc.. |
| SN 817 |
Blenheim Birdsong |
| SN 820 |
Winter Birds |
| SN 850 |
Birds of a Broadleaved Forest |
| SN 847 |
Upland Forest Birds |
| SN 851 |
Birds of a Winter Estuary Bill Oddie takes Ken Jackson to Pagham Harbour in Sussex on a winter walk around the well-known reserve. They see and hear some 30 species, including Whimbrel, Brent Geese, Grey Plover, Teal, Turnstone, Dunlin, Curlew and Widgeon. Produced in association with Birwatching magazine. |
| SN 860 |
Ayrshire's Winter Shore Birds An exploration of part of the coast-line of the country in which Angus Hogg shows Ken Jackson some of the large number of species which spend winter on, and off, the shore and estuaries. Among the species seen and heard are Glaucous Gull, Twite, Redshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Goldeneye, Rock Pipit, Grey Plover, Greylag Goose, Fulmar, Snipe and the five commoner Gulls. |
| SN 862 |
Ayrshire's Summer Shore Birds The sequel to SN 860 with a total of 31 species including Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Little and Arctic Tern, Shelduck, Gannet and Kittiwake on Ailsa Craig, Fulmar, Cormorant, Peregrine and eleven species of small birds. Buy both Summer and Winter and save £1.00. |
| SN 863 |
Dawn Birdsong Cliff Christie joins Ken Jackson very early one May morning to listen to - and identify - 23 species. Those singing or calling include Wood Pigeon, Heron, Little Grebe, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Great Tit, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Wren, Robin, Blackcap, Stock Dove, Jackdaw and Tawny Owl. |
| SN 869 |
Radipole's Summer Birds |
| SN 855 |
Minsmere's Summer Birds Jeremy Sorensen is Ken's guide around the famous RSPB reserve in Suffolk. An early morning walkabout reveals some 40 species including Nightingale, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Little and Common Tern, Marsh Harrier, Bittern, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat. |
| SN 856 |
Running with the Fox David Macdonald and Ken Jackson observe and discuss fox behaviour in the wild, with an affects microphone to record the natural sounds. A considerable part of the tape features fox calls with their meaning explained as far as is known. |
| SN 840 |
Dusk to Dawn in a Wood |
| SN 868a |
Ayrshire's Woodland Birds 1 See SN 868 below. |
| SN 868b |
Ayrshire's Woodland Birds 2 See SN 868 below. |
| SN 868 (868a & 868b) |
Ayrshire's Woodland Birds A May visit to several locations in the area, including Culzean and the RSPB Lochwinnoch Reserve, to join Angus Hogg as he introduces Ken Jackson to a total of 43 species of woodland, and woodland-edge, birds with a total of 61 different songs and calls. The birds heard include Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Wood Warbler, Whitethroat, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Redpoll, Long-tailed Tit, Buzzard, Coal Tit, Yellowhammer, Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Pipit and Woodcock. Available as two separate singles, or as a twin pack at a saving of £1.00. |
| SN 890 |
The Nature of Culzean A May visit to the castle and country park in Ayrshire, which are National Trust for Scotland properties, to explore part of the history and natural history. |
| SN 829 |
Birds of a Pine Forest An April walk in part of the old Caledonian Pine forest around Loch Garten with the RSPB warden, Stewart Taylor. Species heard and discussed include Osprey, Crossbill, Crested Tit, Siskin, Buzzard, Oystercatcher and Goldeneye as well as Coal Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Wren etc.. |
| SN 888 |
A night Out with the Birds An all-night, mid-August visit to the Ythan estuary, in Aberdeenshire, to hear, and hear about, 29 species of wader and other shore birds as they go about their feeding activities, which are regulated by the state of the tide and the food species' availability, rather than the hours of daylight. |
| SN 991 |
A Wild Goose Chase Angus Hogg and Ken Jackson on the trail of wild geese in the south-west of Scotland, including visits to the RSPB reserve at Merse Head and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Caerlaverock. Species covered are Greylag, Pinkfeet, Greenland Whitefront, Bean, Brent, Barnacle and Canada, with 'guest appearances' of other wildfowl and waders. |
| SN 881 |
Songs & Calls - Dinas A mid-May visit to the RSPB reserve near Llandovery to join up with the warden, Tony Pickup, to hear and hear about, 28 of the species which breed in the oak woodlands and surrounding areas. There are 34 different songs and calls including those of Pied Flycatcher, Wood, Garden and Willow Warblers, Raven, Buzzard, Peregrine, Red Kite, Redstart, Grey Wagtail and Nuthatch. |
| SN 882 |
Songs & Calls - Ynyshir A mid-May visit to the RSPB reserve near Machynlleth to join up with the warden, Dick Squires, to hear and hear about, the species that breed in the oak woodlands, marsh and surrounding areas. Contains 38 different songs and calls from 31 species including the Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Warblers as at Dinas, plus Reed, Sedge, Grasshopper, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Blackcap, as well as Canada, Greylag, Shelduck, Teal, Heron, and Lapwing. |
| SN 893a |
English Bird Table Talk See SN 893 below. |
| SN 893b |
Scottish Bird Table Talk See SN 893 below. |
| SN 893 (893a & 893b) |
Bird Table Talk Close encounters at several "bugged" feeding stations, where the microphones were right by the feeders, to hear, and hear about, a total of 23 species of feeding birds both singing and calling. Produced in association with CJ Wildbird Foods, and featuring Angus Hogg, Chris Whittles and Robin Heaney and Geoff Shaw of Forest Enterprise in Scotland in conversation with Ken Jackson. Available as two separate singles, or as a twin pack at a saving of £1.00. |
| SN 887a |
Ayrshire's Moorland Birds See SN 887 below. |
| SN 887b |
Ayrshire's Upland Forest Birds See SN 887 below. |
| SN 887 (887a & 887b) |
Ayrshire's Upland Birds An end-May exploration to hear, and hear about a total of 51 species from Angus Hogg and others - Curlew, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Dublin Snipe, Redshank, Buzzard, Raven, Siskin, Stonechat, Whinchat, Wheatear, Grey Wagtail, Red & Black Grouse, Dipper ... to name a few. Produced in part-association with Forest Enterprise and available either as two separate singles or as a twin pack at a saving of £1.00. |
| SN 883 (881 & 882) |
Birdsong of Welsh Oak Woodlands & Marsh This is a twin pack made up of SN 881 and SN 882, but costing £1.00 less. Hear and hear about, a total of 43 species with 56 different songs and calls. |
| SN 842 |
At Home with Wild Geese |
| SN 828 |
Longlegs - Flamingos |
| SN 898 |
A Wildfowl Walkabout |
| GNS 101 |
Welney's Winter Birds |
| SN 810 |
The Wildfowl Trust - Past & Present With Sir Peter Scott. |
| SN 991 |
A Wild Goose Chase Partly recorded at Caerlaverock. |
| SN 864 |
Pheasants and Related Birds |
| SN 865 |
The Living Churchyard |
| SN 866 |
Sounds of Kenya Malcolm Coe accompanied Ken Jackson when they went on safari to record material for BBC World Service. Masai singing in the Rift Valley, birds and night sounds at the Ark in the Abadares, more birds at Naivasha, Wildebeest and Hippo in the Mara and Elephant in Tsavo, are among the sounds captured and commented on. Also available with sounds only and no commentary. |
| SN 891 |
At Home with Cockatiels |
| SN 895 |
At Home with Budgerigars |
| SN 892 |
Bird care with the Vet |
| SN 896 |
Understanding Parrots |
| SN 781 |
Rare Breeds |
| SN 831 |
The Language of Lambing |
| SN 827 |
At Home with Duck |
| SN 861 |
Rare & Commercial Sheep |
| TTT 831 |
Great Expectations Please add supplemental charge of £0.49 (eg. casette costs £6.99). |
| TTT 833 |
The Nature of Poetry Please add supplemental charge of £0.49 (eg. casette costs £6.99). |
| TTT 832 |
Hard Times Please add supplemental charge of £0.49 (eg. casette costs £6.99). |
| TTT 839 |
Wordsworth reads Wordsworth Eighteen of William Wordsworth's best-known pieces of poetry read by Professor Jonathan Wordsworth, Chairman of the Wordsworth Trust, who also provides linking introductions and comments. Please add supplemental charge of £0.49 (eg. casette costs £6.99). |
| TTT 838 |
The Wind in the Willows A double cassette dramatisation of this delightful tale of Kenneth Graham's, produced with natural sounds, sound effects and songs. This complete and faithful adaptation by Mary Jackson lasts 2 hrs 15 mins and is performed by members of Oxford Sound, with help from real animals. Costs £9.00. |
| SN 841 |
Scottish Animals - Now and Then |
| SN 814 |
The Nature of Xmas |
| SN 875 |
At Home with Burford |
| SN 985 |
Burford at War |
| SN 871 |
The Nature of Wool & Weaving |
| SN 870 |
Cotswold Wool Trail |
| SN 877 |
An Autumn Walk in Wychwood |
| SN 831 |
The Nature of Whisky A tour around a traditional distillery, with its own cooperage and malting floor, to follow the production process step by step and sample, by proxy, its delights of smell and taste. |
| SN 1314 |
An Insight into Bannockburn A souvenir version of the Soundalive audio tour around the National Trust for Scotland's Heritage Centre and battlefield near Stirling. An account of Scotland's history before, during and after the historic battle in 1314, with added sound effects and music. Please add supplemental charge of £0.49 (eg. casette costs £6.99). |
| SN 890 |
The Nature of Culzean A May visit to the castle and country park in Ayrshire, which are National Trust for Scotland properties, to explore part of the history and natural history. |
| SN 894 |
Burford Priory |
| SN 987 |
At Home with Logan Botanic Garden An edited souvenir cassette version of the Soundalive Interpreter audio tours at this remarkable garden near Stranraer, one of the three out-stations of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Please add supplemental charge of £0.49 (eg. casette costs £6.99). |
| SN 993 |
Keith Harding's World of Scottish Mechanical Music |
| SN 992 |
At Home with Calmac - Arran and Back, and Beyond |
| SN 990 |
The Water of Life - an Anthology of Whisky This delightfully informative and entertaining new production marks an exciting addition to the developing range of Sounds Natural heritage titles, aimed to complement the existing, and still growing, main stream of wildlife and conservation productions in our catalogue. Produced from an excellent script written by Gavin D. Smith - already the author of several whisky books - we believe this to be a 'first' in this form of audio interpretation of 'the cratur'. It combines the informal, radio-feature-on-cassette, style of Sounds Natural with the skill of Gavin's script, and explores the history and features of whisky worldwide, but mainly Scotch ... for obvious reasons! The presentation is blended with a range of prose, poetry and song excerpts, distilled from an interesting selection of readers and singers, and has proved to be a production which, like many good books, can be experienced and enjoyed over and over again. Whisky - 'uisce beatha' in the Gaelic - is renowned as one of the world's greatest drinks with a fascinating and colouful heritage. On this entertaining and informative production, whisky expert Gavin Smith guides the listener on a personal 'whisky trail' where the legend, lore and spirit of the Water of Life are explored and celebrated. The recording is a must for anyone and everyone who from time to time takes a dram of the cratur. |
| SN 872 |
Keith Harding's World of Mechanical Music |