Kitchen Garden Forum

I'm very puzzled by a bird call I've been hearing over the last two weeks. It starts as it gets dusk and continues for a couple of hours or so. It's a loud woooop and ends on a higher note than it starts. (Imagine Only Way is Essex girl saying What!) Sounds impressive but it's not a Bittern as I've listened to a recording of that and they are more of a boom noise.
We're in a countryside area, some wet areas nearby, not close to the sea (couple of miles). We have owls around but we know their sounds and it's not them as we hear them as well. Have looked through the books and listened to various calls on an archive but can't place it.

Any ideas?

Motherwoman

Cock Pheasant?

Curlew make a lot of strange noises at that time of day but I am not convinced, you are probably familiar with them anyway.

Vixen?

Nightjar?

I was wondering about a male pheasant too. They have a sort of single curt hoot which Icahn be quite loud.

Cock pheasant I know well and it's not him. Quite a long call and it has us very puzzled. Any more suggestions very welcome!

MW

Some interesting calls here

http://www.wildsong.co.uk/rails.html

The long call from the cock pheasant I thought was usually on take off.
When its starting to strut its stuff or calling prior to roost I was under the impression it tended to be a single call.

Have you considered one of the owls?
Also as previously suggested fox's are calling.

I'm intrigued

http://www.wildowl.co.uk/Athene_noctua_Male.mp3

Hi Sandyback,

Found it! Thought I knew owl calls but it's a Little Owl male call. Link above to have a listen.

Many thanks for all suggestions.

MW

And i was just going to put it was a Little Owl.

Either my speakers have gone walkabout or its a very quiet owl I'll have a google around and see if I can find another recording.
Glad its sorted any way.

Either my speakers have gone walkabout or its a very quiet owl I'll have a google around and see if I can find another recording.
Glad its sorted any way.
Found this one http://sounds.bl.uk/Environment/British ... 464-0500V0

You can here the pheasant in the background

All birds in our town are called sheppies we only have one type of bird but different colours most are very dark due to all the smokey chimneys but as industry dies the skies become clearer the birds get cleaner

I have a blackbird that comes and sits on a roof by my plot that does a fair imitation of a woodpecker.

It's the ones that do an impression of a phone ringing that worry me...