Night singing

[Lou-D]

Last night was a very late one due to working on an assignment to be handed in today (what joy!). I finally managed to finish my work at 2am but before I could head upstairs I heard the most beautiful singing coming from my garden. Looking out of the window, I couldn't see anything. The bird was either sitting on the roof or in the tall tree next to the house and its song was most unlike anything I've ever heard before - clear, loud and rich. It's hard to describe how it sounded but I think fluid, long, clear notes with shorter, trilling notes in between would be the nearest I could get.

Anybody got any ideas as to what it could have been? I live out in Holderness in East Yorkshire.

Whatever it was, it was a lovely ending to a stressful evening!

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Lou-D

Last night was a very late one due to working on an assignment to be handed in today (what joy!). I finally managed to finish my work at 2am but before I could head upstairs I heard the most beautiful singing coming from my garden. Looking out of the window, I couldn't see anything. The bird was either sitting on the roof or in the tall tree next to the house and its song was most unlike anything I've ever heard before - clear, loud and rich. It's hard to describe how it sounded but I think fluid, long, clear notes with shorter, trilling notes in between would be the nearest I could get.

Anybody got any ideas as to what it could have been? I live out in Holderness in East Yorkshire.

Whatever it was, it was a lovely ending to a stressful evening!

well from your description it does sound like it could be a nightingale, but first you want to rule out the more common nightsinging birds often encouraged to do so by streetlights- the Blackbird, the robin and even the songthrush if it's feeling particulalry keen. Although you have probably heard such birds before, they can sound quite different and even more beautiful when singing on their own at night... If you google 'British Birdsong' links to common birdsong samples come up, although there's song thrush and nightingale on this site found under 'sound' in the Gallery.
Hope this helps!

[pheonix]

Quite a few warblers will sing at night too

[Jonny]

We have robins round here that sing at night and the song sounds better than I have ever heard before. Makes me wonder when they do sleep.....................Jon

[nightshade]

I have a blackbird that sings well into the evening,it is very relaxing,even guests have been asked to shut up and listen on occasion!!

[rlchew]

I often hear a Song Thrush late at night or even in the middle of the night from where I live.

I have also heard Robin and Blackbird but less regularly.

I think it is all the artificial light (streetlamps, security lights, etc.) that makes them think it is still daytime and should therefore be singing.

But as Jon says, when do they sleep?

Richard

[Mark43]

Originally Posted by Jonny

We have robins round here that sing at night and the song sounds better than I have ever heard before. Makes me wonder when they do sleep.....................Jon

They sleep when i am trying to add them to my year list