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All aboard for an aquatic adventure in sound with two new British Library wildlife CDs.

Have you ever wondered to yourself: ‘just what does the mating call of a Haddock sound like?’ Well if you have, now’s your chance to find out once and for all...All aboard for an aquatic adventure in sound with two new wildlife CDs from the British Library Sound Archive.

The British Library has launched two new additions to its popular Wildlife CD series, Sounds of the Deep and Sounds of the British Coastline. The collections enable the listener to eavesdrop on the underwater communications of sea life, conjure up the sounds of the British seaside via the squawks and squeals of seabirds, or to listen in on some of nature’s more intimate moments, such as the call of a spawning male Haddock engaged in a noisy display of courtship....

Sounds of the British Coastline - subtitled 'a journey in sound along the shores of Britain - celebrates the diverse habitats and wildlife that can be found along the ever-changing coastline of our island. The collection provides an atmospheric soundscape of British shores, from the eerie wails of a Grey Seal colony at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire, to the soothing sounds of the incoming tide at sunset on the Isle of Wight.

The 'Coastline CD also includes the sounds of a tranquil Norfolk harbour as Black-headed Gulls glide past and an awakening Hampshire reed bed where the rich song of the Reed Warbler dominates the dawn chorus. Other highlights include the familiar wail of a Herring Gull on the Jurassic coast of Dorset - a World Heritage Site - the shrill sounds of an Oystercatcher on the Shetland Islands and the frenzied cries of a colony of Kittiwakes in Northumberland. From the rocky shores of the West Country to the sea lochs of Scotland, Sounds of the British Coastline pays homage to Britain’s spectacular shores.

Dusky Dolphins

Drift away from British beaches and dive into the depths of the oceans with Sounds of the Deep. From the icy waters of the Antarctic to the tropical seas of the Caribbean, Sounds of the Deep - subtitled 'an exploration of life in our seas' - takes the listener on a journey through the oceans and introduces a fascinating collection of sounds from the marine world. Experience the haunting song of the Humpback Whale as it travels through winter breeding grounds in search of a mate, and marvel at the humming courtship calls of the male Haddock. Listen to the drumming calls of a walrus diving for food, the warbling of a ten foot-long Leopard Seal or the clicks, whistles and buzzes of the Atlantic Spotted Dolphin. Encounter Dusky Dolphins in the Pacific, Harp Seals in the Arctic and a host of other species including the lovable Bottlenose Dolphin and the mighty Blue Whale.

Each CD contains a fully annotated leaflet which gives details of the creatures and their habitats, together with descriptions and explanations of their sounds.

The British Library Sound Archive’s Cheryl Tipps - who compiled these CDs - commented: “The British Library Sound Archive is thrilled to present these captivating new collections of marine life and coastal wildlife sounds. Other titles in the British Library’s wildlife CD series have been tremendously popular and I hope that wildlife enthusiasts will find these two new compilations equally fascinating.”

The publisher of these CDs, the British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, widely recognised as one of the modern world's greatest libraries. The British Library currently includes 150 million items, in most known languages, with 3 million new items: including a copy of every publication produced in the UK and Ireland, as well as CD, DVD and mini-disc material - being incorporated into the collection every year. Outside of the English capital readers can also experience the British Library online at www.bl.uk and help the conservation of the world's knowledge by taking part in the Adopt a Book scheme.

Sounds of the Deep and Sounds of the British Coastline are published by the British Library, priced £9.95 each including VAT. Duration of these CDs is approximately 65 and 70 minutes respectively. Both recordings are available from the British Library Bookshop (tel: 020 7412 7735, fax: 020 7412 7624, email: bl-bookshop@bl.uk).

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