Bonus! Northern Elephant Seal Colony at Punta Gorda

Bonus! Northern Elephant Seal Colony at Punta Gorda

Author: Sound By Nature January 24, 2026 Duration: 19:07

This was recorded on a sunny winter afternoon on the Lost Coast by the Punta Gorda Lighthouse in Humboldt County, California.

The colony was quite active on this afternoon, with many newborn pups, their mothers, and massive males making a myriad of interesting, and at times funny, sounds.

Though the wind was very light for most of the day, it started to pick up as I was setting up the recording rig. I didn't bring much in the way of wind protection for the mics, so there is quite a bit of wind noise in this recording. Nevertheless, I thought it was worth sharing with you. I hope you enjoy it,


Sometimes the most profound moments come from simply listening to the world outside our windows. Sound By Nature is an invitation to pause and immerse yourself in the authentic acoustics of the natural world, curated into thoughtful audio experiences. Each episode is a dedicated soundscape, free from narration or music, capturing everything from the gentle patter of rain in an old-growth forest to the distant crash of ocean waves at dusk. It’s a resource for recentering, whether you need a backdrop for deep work, a tool for meditation, or a gentle path into restful sleep. This podcast draws from the fields of acoustic ecology and environmental science, presenting these recordings not just as ambient noise, but as a connection to the intricate and often overlooked sound environments that surround us. Tune in, put on your headphones, and let the raw, unedited symphony of the planet provide a much-needed respite from the clutter of daily life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Sound By Nature
Podcast Episodes
Bonus! Cousin It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:00
I recently made some wind protection for my SAAM Microphone in order to get better recordings on windy days. Several people remarked that it looked like Cousin It from the Addams Family, so that's what I've started calli…
153: Tree Ears- Autumn Day In Douglas Fir Forest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:47:37
This was recorded on a cold and clear autumn day in the forest high above Cabin Creek near the Pacific Crest Trail in Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta County, California. A light breeze blew through the tops of the…
152: Breezy Autumn Day At Porcupine Lake [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:39:08
This was recorded beneath a stand of Mountain Hemlock and Lodgepole Pine on a breezy autumn day at Porcupine Lake in Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Siskiyou County, California. The air was cold and crisp as the sun shin…
151: Autumn Day Beside Trough Creek [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:15:00
This was recorded on a clear autumn day near the Pacific Crest Trail in a deep, shady, and densely forested mountain gulch at the bottom of a small waterfall on Trough Creek in Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta Coun…
150: Tree Ears- Rainy Autumn Night In The Forest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:00:00
This was recorded on a rainy autumn night in Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Shasta County, California. A breeze blew through the trees above early on then gradually subsided as the rain fell steadily through the night b…
Bonus! Russian Wilderness- Buzzing Meadow Morning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:00
I recorded this in the meadow at the south end of Taylor Lake in the Russian Wilderness, Klamath National Forest, Siskiyou County, California. It was a warm morning for the elevation of the meadow(6500') thanks to the cl…
149: Russian Wilderness- Midnight Till Morning Beside Taylor Lake [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:30:00
This was recorded on a cloudy night beside Taylor Lake in the Russian Wilderness, Klamath National Forest, Siskiyou County, California. The recording starts at around midnight and continues until sunrise. The night was f…
148: Russian Wilderness- Summer Afternoon Beside Taylor Lake [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:10:00
This was recorded on a warm summer day beside Taylor Lake in the Russian Wilderness, Klamath National Forest, Siskiyou County, California. I placed the microphone near the edge of the lake beneath White Fir trees just be…