Bird Flight Call (at night)

[gecko]

Hi,

I appreciate this is perhaps a long shot, but I just heard a bird fly over, fairly low, at about 11.15pm, and I'm not sure what it was. This was in the outer suburbs of a northern city, but there is an area of heath, scrubby woodland and ponds nearby, which I think the bird was heading towards. The call was a loud, high pitched 'buh-BLEEP', the second note higher and longer than the first, with no discernible pause between the two notes. I think it was probably a wader, and my first thought was redshank, but I can't find any audio files to confirm it.

I know how hard it is to write bird calls down in words, but any suggestions would be gratefully received!

[davecatt]

Hi Gecko
Heres a useful link for wild life sound recordings; have a browse.

British wildlife recordings - Archival Sound Recordings

Dave

[FUDGEY]

When you listen to the Redshank have a listen at the Oystercatcher too as that could be a possibility going by the noise description.

[earthdragon64]

From your description it sounds like an Oystercatcher, I often hear them after dark in the Spring and Summer.

The RSPB website also has some sound files you can listen to. if you select "Birds and Wildlife" from the menu bar across the top, then "Birds by Name", you get an alphabetic list of birds, clicking on each one gives you information about that bird, including a recording.

[googler]

Oystercatcher, I reckon....

[ChrisJB]

Yup, oystercatcher came into my head first too.

Regards, Chris

[gecko]

Thanks all. Oystercatcher, of course I haven't heard them since last summer, but still didn't think I'd have forgotten THAT sound! It's an unusual bird to be passing through here though, so I'm quite pleased.

[animartco]

Not a peewit no? You are probably already familiar with this. Only they do mostly fly and call a little after dark

[gecko]

No, it was definitely an oystercatcher. Just an unusual bird to have flying over, especially all alone at night! Lapwings used to breed near here, but almost never see them now, even on migration.

[animartco]

I know Gecko! peewits used to be a very common sight, dozens of them in the local fields and flying over in flocks at night. Now nerry a one! Must be the biggest decline of any bird!