Mountain Brook Nightscape

by Lang Elliott | Mar 25, 2026 | 42 comments

Mountain Brook Nightscape – featuring Barred Owls. July 2, 2002, at midnight. Shindagin Hollow near Brooktondale, New York. © Lang Elliott. Please wear headphones. Ai-gen photo.

Note: The recording featured here is a “3D binaural soundscape”. Please wear headphones for a profound listening experience that will make you think you’re actually out there, immersed in the natural world!

In early July, I camp at the bottom of Shinagin Hollow in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York, a short distance from a small mountain brook. Around midnight, I am awakened by a distant Barred Owl that screams and hoots from the other side of the hollow. Other owls soon join in. The concert continues for over fifteen minutes, finally ending with a lone owl giving a slow-paced series of simple who-awl calls before disappearing into the night.

I soon fall back asleep, once again surrendering to the soothing, everlasting gurgle of the brook.

The Backstory:

On one level, this could be described as a recording that features the calling of Barred Owls—a species portrait of sorts. But I do not consider it as such. For me, it is a marvelous mix of two primary elements: 1) the tinkling gurgle of the brook that spreads wide across the sound-stage, and 2) the initial scream followed by hoots of Barred Owls, some very distant, some mid-distant, and some quite close.

This recording is full of depth and the calls of the owls do not overwhelm (at least to my ear). In the early days of my nature recording career, I always wanted to get closer, ever so closer, so that the main subject would stand strong against a more distant background. Now I prefer soundscapes where there is a more balanced mix of elements, and I think this recording qualifies. It is truly a lovely recording and one that I treasure. I was so fortunate to be present there, with my recorder running all night not far from my tent, as I passed in and out of sleep!

A Question:

Some folks aren’t nearly as excited about watery sounds as I am. I am so water-oriented that I have hundreds of soundscapes recorded near streams. Plus rain recordings of every kind imaginable. Plus ocean waves, inland waves, waterfalls, rivulets … you name it. I literally wallow in water, especially when I sludge through swamps and marshes in search of soundscapes born of the muck.

Some even dislike the gurgles and splashes and tinkles. Some people tell me that the sound of water makes them want to pee. Yet water recordings and especially rain are hugely popular for relaxation.

I am very interested in hearing from others concerning this matter. Maybe I’ve overdone it with regard to water sounds and should spend a few years avoiding any hint of it? Is that even possible for me? But hey, I’m not a Pisces … I’m a Gemini which is not at all watery. Maybe I’m just over-compensating, trying to wash myself clean of too much thinking?

So what, praytell, is your take on this matter?