Storm in Sinharaja

The sounds of a thunderstorm with
birds & wildlife in the Sri Lankan rainforest.

Recording Location: Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka
Habitat: Tropical rainforest
Duration: 65 minutes (6 tracks)
Year of Release: 2014 © All rights reserved
Download Formats: mp3 & FLAC (48kHZ/24bit)

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Format:

Clear

Album Description

Sinharaja Forest Reserve protects the largest area of rainforest remaining in Sri Lanka. Although less than 140 square kilometres in total area, this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is a biodiversity hotspot and a haven for the majority of Sri Lanka’s endemic fauna & flora.

I visited Sinharaja during the monsoon season with the hope of recording some of it’s unique wildlife, but the torrential rain forced me to spend most of the time sheltering in a lodge. However on the final morning of my stay, the rain eased for a few hours and I was able to record the sounds you hear on this album.

Listen to a Sample

Recording Location

Map © OpenStreetMap contributors

Track Listing

1. 5am in Sinharaja (6:00)

In the predawn darkness, frogs and insects call from the forest undergrowth while dewdrops fall from the forest canopy.

2. Birdsong at Dawn (14:28)

As the daylight brightens Yellow-browed Bulbul sing cheerfully and a distant Chestnut-backed Owlet makes a soft rolling call. The soft coughing calls of the endangered Purple-faced Langur can be heard from a nearby hillside. Sri Lankan Junglefowl make the distinctive crowing calls throughout this track and most of the album. Later on this track a Spot-winged Thrush sings sweetly while growls of thunder are heard in the distance.

3. Morning Ambience (8:20)

The insect activity increases as the days warms and a light breeze drifts through the forest. Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher and Spot-winged Thrush continue to sing melodiously and Yellow-fronted Barbets can be heard with their repetitive rhythmic calls. A Sri Lankan Grey Hornbill cackles occasionally in the distance and in the foreground a woodpecker drums. Toward the end of the track light rain begins to fall.

4. Monsoon Rain (9:20)

The rain continues as the soundscape becomes sparser with most birds seeking shelter from the downpour.

5. Song of the Spot-winged Thrush (5:52)

As the rain lightens, a Spot-winged Thrush sings beautifully from the forest along with the lower-pitched simpler phrases of Sri Lankan Scimitar-Babbler.

6. After the Rain (21:04)

The birds become more active as the storm passes and a number of small frogs call from the wet forest floor. At around 5:00 the unusual call of the Sri Lankan Spurfowl can be heard followed by the tinkling song of Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher.

Bird species heard on this album include:

Sri Lankan Spurfowl, Sri Lankan Junglefowl, Layard’s Parakeet, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Sri Lankan Grey Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Sri Lankan Scimitar-Babbler, Spot-winged Thrush, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher and Yellow-browed Bulbul.

Storm in Sinharaja