A few "flyovers" for homework - a reasonable list? - Page 2

Deb London · #11 (**permalink**) 13-10-2011, 10:31 AM

Flung all the windows wide open when I read about the Redwings.

Unfortunately, there was a little too much background noise.

RoyW · #12 (**permalink**) 13-10-2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deb London

Flung all the windows wide open when I read about the Redwings.

Unfortunately, there was a little too much background noise.

If you are out and about (or even just out in the back garden) often enough between say 11pm and 06.30am during the rest of October, you should be pretty much guaranteed to hear them a few times.
For some reason Redwings seem to be far easier to hear as they pass overhead at night than most other birds (except waders) - though I also hear other thrush species occasionally as well (beware of confusion with the similar "Tseep" calls given by Blackbirds).

Deb London · #13 (**permalink**) 13-10-2011, 02:57 PM

Ta Roy, will try and get up a bit earlier and take a walk in the dark maybe.

RoyW · #14 (**permalink**) 13-10-2011, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deb London

I found this, and decided it was quite helpful.

Quote:

Siskin is a very very clear Pee-ooo, with the ooo of a lower pitch. one of Redpoll's flight calls is hooo-eee where the eee is higher, though they more often use a sort of buzzing and rolling chhh-chhh-chhh-chhh

Hopefully someone can confirm.

Apart from the "chhh-chhh-chhh-chhh" call for redpolls, I found these call descriptions difficult to associate with the actual calls from these species, when I first read them, even though I know the calls.
Both descriptions do work, but Siskin calls always just sound "out of tune" to me, and I wouldn't tend to describe them as a clear "Pee-ooo" - although I supose they do tend to give fairly clear notes, and the redpoll "hooo-eee" call (if they are describing the call I think they are) is far more slurred, but with a distinct 'buzzing' quality.
Siskin
redpoll

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deb London

Ta Roy, will try and get up a bit earlier and take a walk in the dark maybe.

I always used to find that walking home from the pub was a very good time to hear them! clear nights tend to be best.

Deb London · #15 (**permalink**) 13-10-2011, 03:07 PM

Thanks Roy.

I can see exactly what she means when I look at the sonogram (one goes up and one descends). This might be helpful for me because although I have seen and heard both species this year, it was only once in each case. They just aren't common enough for me to get familiar with them very quickly. The quote makes me listen for, and remember, certain sounds in the call.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyW

I always used to find that walking home from the pub was a very good time to hear them! clear nights tend to be best.

earthdragon64 · #16 (**permalink**) 13-10-2011, 04:24 PM

I got the CD Rom of the Birds of the Western Plearctic and I've found the recordings of the songs and calls on that to be really useful.

I've never really found song descriptions to be any use, I just don't get what's meant in most cases. The Siskins in my trees always sound like creaking doors to me, maybe it's just my ears.