Night-time birdsong

[BeowulfIII]

Every night I can hear birdsong in my backyard, quite high-pitched tweeting, from after midnight onwards (I cant say how long as fall asleep on most occssions) that seems to come from at least three or four birds. Are Robin's the likely cuprits? I have seen robins a couple of times during the day and being new to birding I am not familiar with their song. The main birds I have seen are blackbirds but they dont sing at night as far as my research tells me

Would you find thrushes or dunnocks in the london area? There are two very large trees in the backyard that could be hiding other birds.

Matt.

[John]

Robins are usually the culprits but if there is an area that is exceptionally well lit almost anything could sing.

I remember calling into a petrol station once on the A47 between Wisbech and Kings Llynn at about 1am and being astounded that there was a Blackbird in full song with a back up chorus from Robins and Sparrows as well.

John

[smartie]

No reason why you shouldn't get dunnocks, and the ones in my garden are currently singing at all hours of the day and night. I heard them at 9pm yesterday and at 4am today, and one of them is singing his heart out as I type this. There are three of them around the hedge at present who seem to be bonding, so I'm hoping they may nest in the garden somewhere and I might see their unusual threesome nesting behaviour.

[mrs fish]

Between 1am and 3am I am hearing (no double glazing) thrushes, robins, dunnocks and just this week the blackbirds have started up, they all seem to be singing their hearts out

At 3am to 5am I am being kept awake by a hybird duck, he is big and very loud and I don't know what to do about it

A very tired mrs fish

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Between 1am and 3am I am hearing (no double glazing) thrushes, robins, dunnocks and just this week the blackbirds have started up, they all seem to be singing their hearts out

At 3am to 5am I am being kept awake by a hybird duck, he is big and very loud and I don't know what to do about it

A very tired mrs fish

Crispy duck or Duck a la orange seems a good idea?

[BeowulfIII]

How do you tell the difference Mrs Fish between the thrushes, robins and dunnocks? Is it quite easy to recognise the different species? I think it may be blackbirds as there are plenty in my backyard. Any ideas as to how I can get them to nest in my backyard? Will they go for an artificial nesting hole?

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by BeowulfIII

How do you tell the difference Mrs Fish between the thrushes, robins and dunnocks? Is it quite easy to recognise the different species? I think it may be blackbirds as there are plenty in my backyard. Any ideas as to how I can get them to nest in my backyard? Will they go for an artificial nesting hole?

I haven't heard a Blackbird round my way in full song yet + there's plenty about. Certainly a lot of Robin, Song+ Mistle Thrush song about. I have also heard Dunnock, Wren, Chaffinch + Goldfinch singing. Robins seem to be most vociferous of night singers.

Shame you missed free bird song CDs with last weekends Independent, but there are plenty of CDs available- Collins guide with book is one good guide.

Blackbirds aren't hole nesters- they build cup shaped nests in shrubs + various nooks + crannies- mine regularly build a nest in the Ivy overhanging my fence.

[mrs fish]

You get to know their songs after awhile, the dunnock is like the robin but does remind me of a skylark.
Even the woodpigeons started cooing yesterday, it was daylight though

[Ollie]

I often start work at 5:30am and there is a Song Thrush that regularly sits on a lighting tower at work singing it's heart out. It was there this morning in fact. I have heard it as early as 3am when I've been on the night shift
Roger

[Garden Carpet]

I am often on the trek between bedroom and..well you know the story ... at around 3am and sometimes hear a blackbird start up at that time. It is such a lovely sound. Havnt yet worked out if it is the bird waking me.. or me waking the bird! Either way I do enjoy the serenade in darkness

Ten minutes later....

Serenade in Darkness

From blackness comes the sound/of golden liquid song/alone in all the hedge/and early morning blackbird/sings a serenade of darkness.

you heard it here first...