Help with nocturnal bird sound...

[fairplay]

How disappointed I am with people saying NIGHTJAR
Or should I say how disappointed I am that these people have obviously never heard a Nightjar. There is no similarity at all.

As to what it is, I don't pretend to know, but Barn Owl is a logical choice.

Neil.

[Bikerwine]

Hi Folks
Sorry for bringing this thread to life again. I have lived in the sticks (Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and now South Glamorgan) for the past 30 years. I have seen and heard Barn Owls many a time - nesting, feeding, hunting and courting. Over the past two years I have been surprised to hear the call of a bird exactly the same as the one recorded at the beginning of this thread. I too have not been able to identify the species. I have seen it in flight quite high up and indeed, it is far too large to be a Bern Owl! Last year during late sun set, I witnessed a pair of them flying together high up engaged in what seemed like 'passing objects to one another'. I was out listening to them this evening, exactly the same sound as posted, flying high, circling about - but they are not Barn Owls?????????

BW

[Dorts]

The recording at the begining of this thread is definitely that of a Nightjar.
Dorts.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Bikerwine

exactly the same sound as posted, flying high, circling about - but they are not Barn Owls?????????

Then they are something that sounds exactly like one of the calls that can be given by Barn Owls.
(And size can be very difficult to judge on birds that are seen high up).

Originally Posted by Dorts

The recording at the begining of this thread is definitely that of a Nightjar.

No it's not - it is a Barn Owl.

[Clive_S]

Hi All,

As the original poster of this now venerable thread I would comment that we live on the edge of the fens, far away from any suitable nightjar habitat. We certainly have Barn Owls (one even roosted in the winter in one of my barn owl boxes!). We also have tawny and little owls and even the occasional Short-eared and once a Long-eared Owl.

Personally I favour the Barn Owl theory. I will keep an ear open and post any other similar nocturnal noises!

Best wishes,

Clive

[Joshuablinkhorn]

Wow! What an amazing thread!

I was camping in the lakes last week and I heard what was indisputably the call in the original post.

It was such an eerie sound I was determined to get to the bottom of it.

I can understand how the call could be confused with that of a nightjar (in fact that was my first thought) but I am entirely convinced that it was in fact a barn owl.

Anyway, thanks for the help guys!

[Joshuablinkhorn]

And just out of interest, I heard the call intermittently for over five minutes and it was clear that the call was made both in flight and from a perch.

[Mulligatawny owl]

The recording at the beginning of this thread is a barn owl, no doubt about it.

[Longshanks76]

Glad I found this thread. Was this proven as a Barn Owl ? As I type there's one flying around the garden making exactly the same noise, cant get a look at him though. I've always been out at night hearing owls being an amateur astronomer but never heard this call before, is it specific to this time of year ? Mating/territorial ?

Thanks

[Clive_S]

Hi,

As the original poster of this now 'heritage' thread which currently celebrates its 6th year, I can only reiterate that I am 99% sure that the call is that of a Barn Owl. I only seem to hear it early in the year so maybe it does have to do with a courtship or mating ritual?

I now have three barn owl boxes up (one with CCTV installed) but despite a barn owl roosting in one during the last two winters the Stock doves seem to co-opt them each year...

Cheers,

Clive