Raven???

[purpledragon2112]

Hi not sure if anyone can help, but we keep hearing this pig like sound, after a bit of research via the RSPB website the only bird we can find that makes that sound is a Raven, however we never see it!!
Can anyone suggest another bird that makes a similar noise.
I live in a Devon town, surrounded by farm land, countryside and woodland, also near by are lakes, streams and rivers.
Any suggestions would be great.
Many thanks
PS no nearby farms or neighbours keep pigs so it not the obvious... a pig LOL!!

[Picidae]

Only bird that really sounds like a pig snorting/squealing is a WATER RAIL - they should be moving in to their winter habitats now so not confined to reed beds etc but water logged fields and ditches.

[purpledragon2112]

WOW quick reply, thanks.
I have just been on the afore mentioned website and although the Water Rail sounds real pig like it is too high pitched for what we keep hearing.
It almost sounds similar to the toy pigs you can buy were you press their tummies and they oink, it is a fairly deep sound.
Apparently ravens are bigger then buzzards, we have several buzzards in the area, so I am supprised that we haven't seen a raven ( if that is what it is).
There is a fair amount of woodland around though, so if they are shy birds I suppose it wouldn't be that hard to hide!!
Thanks again.

[Picidae]

It almost sounds similar to the toy pigs you can buy were you press their tummies and they oink, it is a fairly deep sound.

This does sound a bit more like the deep honking flight call of Raven but geese also have that kind of sound and tend to be a bit more vocal when in the fields or flying around - I'd have a wander over the local fields if you have time and see if you can see any geese feeding on the farmers stubble.

[GuyF]

I have Ravens in my area and I often hear them calling when I'm out in the garden, however I only occasionally see them flying over, so they can be quite secretive when they want to! If you keep looking you should see one eventually, they are huge but this can be quite hard to judge in the field.
Guy

[purpledragon2112]

Hi just a quick update, I have seen them!!
I have been hearing them for ages but never seeing them, hence the thread here, as I was unsure if they were infact ravens, however I saw them flying over the wooded area just up from my house, wow talk about big birds, I was totally shocked at their size and am amazed how they stay so out of sight.
So many thanks to all who replied.
I am still new to this site but visit it often, I might not have much to add to threads, as being new to the whole bird thing, I have little to give, but I have learned lot's from this site and find many threads useful, it is always nice to know that lot's of people have many of the same difficulties that I have and that I am not alone in learning about our beautiful wildlife.
Many thanks again.
Hugs xxx
PS please don't think that I am bumping (is that the right word)! this to the top again, I just thought that I would give an update as these birds excite me as I would never have thought that I would see them, I never knew they lived around my area, I suppose I always associated them with the Tower of London, not the countryside of Devon!!

[Tringa]

Please post as much as you want. It is always good to hear about bird sightings and we all started knowing nothing about birds and have learnt over the years.

It's also really good to have updates, especially when there is a positive result.

[wildherbalian85]

I heard a crow like bird making a deep cronk/ croink sorta sound... this was on farmland just inside West sussex border... (East Marden)

I asumed it was a Raven... first time round i heard it but never sore it... but then again with so many Crows around The second time i was there i saw it.