Bird id from song/noise!

[Trent900]

Hi all,

I hope some of you experts might be able to help identify a bird we heard this morning at around 6:30 which woke us up. I first thought it was an alarm going off but then realised it must be a bird. It seemed to be making a loud high pitched 'BLEEP' noise every few seconds which lasted for at least 15 minutes until it faded away. I've lived in the country (East Herts) since I was a small child and have never heard anything like it.

Anyones help would be great

D.

[FUDGEY]

Do you live near water? Only call I can relate that description is a Kingfisher. Hedge sparrow has a kind of similar call, but you probably would know one of their calls.

[Trent900]

The rivers about 1 mile away down in a wide valley which does have Kingfishers (still trying to catch one on the camera). The call I think was to loud for a sparrow and it wasn't being made next to the house. I had a quick look outside but couldn't see any birds other then a few starlings in the trees.

D.

[FUDGEY]

Mmmm rules out kingfisher, but if the dunnock was relativly close it's surprising how loud & high pitched they are. Possibly could have been starling immatating a car alarm?

[Picidae]

Scops Owl? (Just kidding!!!)

Seriously, will be hard to pin down - lots of birds make a single contact call as you describe:

Starling
Great Tit
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Reed Bunting
etc etc Take your pick!

If it sounded like your alarm clock, Starling would be my guess, if not, a Great Tit.

[valleyforge]

Originally Posted by Trent900

It seemed to be making a loud high pitched 'BLEEP' noise every few seconds which lasted for at least 15 minutes until it faded away.

Thinking out of the box for a moment ... have you checked that your smoke detector doesn't need its battery replaced?

[Lance Morgan]

Originally Posted by valleyforge

Thinking out of the box for a moment ... have you checked that your smoke detector doesn't need its battery replaced?

LOL I replaced the batteries in both mine twice before I realised it was the Carbon Monoxide alarm. Still can't be too careful.

[Trent900]

Originally Posted by valleyforge

Thinking out of the box for a moment ... have you checked that your smoke detector doesn't need its battery replaced?

LOL This was the first thing I thought it was. I think it's going to have to remain a mystery. Will have to see if it happens again.

D.