Cicadas in Worcestershire?

Tris · #1 (**permalink**) 29-07-2006, 08:26 AM

As a new member, I was wondering if everybody else has noticed this sound (more reminiscent of holidays in Spain)? I live on a farm in Worcestershire and have, for the first time, noticed this sound over the last few weeks in a number of places in the area. It is loud, you can easily hear it from at least 75 yards away and one of my children has complained that it keeps her awake.

All expert knowledge welcomed.

Tiggrx · #2 (**permalink**) 29-07-2006, 08:39 AM

I'm presuming that this noise is at night, while Cicadas sing during the day. I would guess some sort of Bush-cricket.

Welcome to WAB

Bushcraft · #3 (**permalink**) 29-07-2006, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tris

As a new member, I was wondering if everybody else has noticed this sound (more reminiscent of holidays in Spain)? I live on a farm in Worcestershire and have, for the first time, noticed this sound over the last few weeks in a number of places in the area. It is loud, you can easily hear it from at least 75 yards away and one of my children has complained that it keeps her awake.

All expert knowledge welcomed.

I believe we only have one native Cicada (New forest Cicada) and that's presumed extinct last time I heard. I would say loud crickets, but who knows with this heat.

Andy Warne · #4 (**permalink**) 29-07-2006, 09:17 AM

I'd guess it would be a Great Green Bush-cricket. Generally they start singing late afternoon and carry on through the night but they do sing in the day sometimes. Very loud!

Andy

Paul mabbott · #5 (**permalink**) 29-07-2006, 06:26 PM

In my experience some cicadas continue way into the night!
It's true that cicadas are unlikely in UK (especially the midlands) *but* it isn't impossible that some have been introduced/colonised .... The only way to find out what these things are is to catch one in the act ..... I say this in the knowledge that I had been going to The Mediterranean, listening to and looking for cicadas for thirty years before I found one!
Good luck........

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

I'm presuming that this noise is at night, while Cicadas sing during the day. I would guess some sort of Bush-cricket.

colinaj · #6 (**permalink**) 29-07-2006, 06:58 PM

Welcome to the group. There are no Cicadas in the UK, They were probaly Bush Crickets,
Very Common in hedgerows & gardens, probaly Drak Bush Crickets or similar

Gaina · #7 (**permalink**) 29-07-2006, 07:52 PM

I was listening to a Natural History program on Radio 4 yesterday and a lady said something about Cicada's in her area - sorry I didn't quite catch where she was.

Tris · #8 (**permalink**) 30-07-2006, 06:09 PM

Thanks to you all for your help. It look likely that what we have been hearing is a Large Conehead - the deciding factor being that it was the only cricket that we could discover on the 'web' that sounded like our local visitor. I wil try and record the call and see if I can get a photo as well. Thanks again.

GillyP · #9 (**permalink**) 31-07-2006, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tris

As a new member, I was wondering if everybody else has noticed this sound (more reminiscent of holidays in Spain)? I live on a farm in Worcestershire and have, for the first time, noticed this sound over the last few weeks in a number of places in the area. It is loud, you can easily hear it from at least 75 yards away and one of my children has complained that it keeps her awake.

All expert knowledge welcomed.

v interested to hear about your possible cicadas. We've heard them too in Cambs; apparently cos they're singing at night they're likely to be bush crickets, according to one expert I've asked. But they are reallly really loud and we've not heard anything like them before... We've two in this village, one on a muck heap. does anyone else know what they might be?

GillyP · #10 (**permalink**) 31-07-2006, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaina

I was listening to a Natural History program on Radio 4 yesterday and a lady said something about Cicada's in her area - sorry I didn't quite catch where she was.

it might have been me on the pm programme... they ran an item responding to an email I sent in regarding possible cicadas in Cambs (Molesworth). They were singing v loudly at night so apparently are likely to be some sort of bush cricket? Can't find anything on the web that sounds like them though!