Weird bird noise

[Cowgirl]

Last couple of nights on the edge of darkness I've heard a bird call from a distance away. It's difficult to describe but the closest I can get is a low whirring noise it doesn't rise or fall but keeps the same note & holds it for about 2 seconds. If you imagine a hoooooo of an owl but more whirring

I have looked up & listened to

Little owl
short eared owl
tawny
woodcock
snipe
partridge
quail
nightjar (this is the closest but a slightly lower tone & not as screechy & it doesn't undulate or go on as long)

Can anyone give me a clue as what bird to listen to next?

Habitat around me is rural, (Howardian hills) hedgerow, wooded, mixed farmland etc

[david156]

Have you also listened to all the owl calls. Tawnys have a low pitched call during courtship which is audile only at closer distances and is different to their normal hooting. Also, try Long eared owl.
I can't help with where you could listen to them, you would need to do a search on the web.

Also Quail and Nightjar are summer visitors so are unlikely to be around at this time of the year.

Hope this helps a little, Cheers David

[Cowgirl]

Thanks David, went & had a listen but no joy. We have plenty of tawnys around here but admittidly it could be a variation of a call that isn't on the RSPB site.

I know it definately positively can't/wont be a nightjar but on the RSPB site the first couple of seconds only of the nightjar recording is the closest to the sound I've heard.

I wish I could get a recording but it's too far away, too quiet (I think the only reason I'm hearing it is because it's a still frosty night) & I don't have any sound recording anyway

It's probably only a tawny, but if someone knows of another site for bird calls I'd be grateful.

[Deer Stalker]

Hi Cowgirl.

Iv'e heard Tawny's calling as you've described, similar to Nightjar.

[david156]

try this site for tawny owl calls

Tawny Owl calls page 1

The 4th one down - the warble. is it anything like that?

[RoyW]

Try listening to the "warbling" calls sometimes given by Tawny Owls.

Eg:
http://www.godsownclay.com/TawnyOwls.../Warble_mf.mp3


Edit: It's from the site that David just linked!

[Dogghound]

xeno-canto/Europe :: bird sounds from Europe

This site might be worth checking out too.

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

Thanks David, went & had a listen but no joy. We have plenty of tawnys around here but admittidly it could be a variation of a call that isn't on the RSPB site.

I know it definately positively can't/wont be a nightjar but on the RSPB site the first couple of seconds only of the nightjar recording is the closest to the sound I've heard.

I wish I could get a recording but it's too far away, too quiet (I think the only reason I'm hearing it is because it's a still frosty night) & I don't have any sound recording anyway

It's probably only a tawny, but if someone knows of another site for bird calls I'd be grateful.

Try this one:

http://www.godsownclay.com/TawnyOwls.../Warble_mf.mp3

Taken from this excellent site for anyone interested in tawny owl calls:

Tawny Owl calls page 1

BTW, this is probably the best site on the net for bird song and calls:

xeno-canto/Europe :: bird sounds from Europe

Cheers
Jonathan

[david156]

looks like we are all looking at the same website

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by david156

looks like we are all looking at the same website

I think that it's quite clear that we are...

It's called "Wild About Britain"