Posted by Paul Gibbs on September 8, 2007 at 2:16 PM
I was out early this morning, and was stalking Red grouse near where i live. Sadly the weather this morning was not condusive to photography, low thick cloud.
Anyway on my way back down i passed a stand of thick Pine trees. From these trees was coming quite possibly the oddest range of bird noises i have ever heard. I'm still puzzled.
It was like this, Imagine a Ravens rawk, but slower and longer, almost like the purr of a big cat, then it changed to the Ke-yaw similar but with much less amplitude of a buzzard, followed by noises similar to an owl. I couldnt see anything, but i could see and hear magpies sounding agitated.
Now i thought it could be a man made recording, to scare birds, but who would put it half the way up a hill in a thick stand of trees. Also it wasnt quite the same each time the "purring" and a little different and the owl noise wasnt always made.
I listened for about 5 minutes, then a group of mountain bikers came by talking, and i didnt hear the noise again.
Anyone have any idea??? Do any corvids copy other animals calls at all?
Posted by Paul Thomas on September 8, 2007 at 2:54 PM
Agitated Magpies suggests something like a bird of prey in the area. I don't really have a clue but I'm going to take a wild guess of Long Eared Owl.
Paul
Posted by Alan Bryant on September 8, 2007 at 5:33 PM
Hmmmm i'm going to say it was a squirrel.
I've been out and about before and heard them make some strange noises.
Imagine hearing that in the pitch black then ....................................
Posted by Rob Howard on September 9, 2007 at 8:56 AM
Hi Paul,
Not sure about the noises. I know Jays/Magpies make a lot of noise when there are predators about. You may have been hearing more than one bird distress calling at a predator.
The link below is to the RSPB website it lists all british bird species and you can listen to their calls, so may be helpful.
Posted by Paul Gibbs on September 9, 2007 at 10:09 AM
Hi, Paul, Alan, and Rob,
I have lived in the country most of my life, and my farther is a trained game keeper, who has given me alot of knowledge of the country.
I know precisely the difference between the noises of Jays and magpies, i know the noises grey squirrels make. Paul's suggestion of a long eared is interesting as i've not heard what their calls are like. If i had some recording equipment i'd like to record it. but my phone is about the only thing, and i dont think it would pick it up.
As i said the noise was weird. It was the croke/purr which i'm puzzled by. If it had been just the buzzard and owl noises i'd of just thought it was a buzzand and an owl.
But the noise really made the hair stand on end.
My only thought would be if Ravens could/would copy other birds calls?
Discussion
4 repliesAnyway on my way back down i passed a stand of thick Pine trees. From these trees was coming quite possibly the oddest range of bird noises i have ever heard. I'm still puzzled.
It was like this, Imagine a Ravens rawk, but slower and longer, almost like the purr of a big cat, then it changed to the Ke-yaw similar but with much less amplitude of a buzzard, followed by noises similar to an owl. I couldnt see anything, but i could see and hear magpies sounding agitated.
Now i thought it could be a man made recording, to scare birds, but who would put it half the way up a hill in a thick stand of trees. Also it wasnt quite the same each time the "purring" and a little different and the owl noise wasnt always made.
I listened for about 5 minutes, then a group of mountain bikers came by talking, and i didnt hear the noise again.
Anyone have any idea??? Do any corvids copy other animals calls at all?
Paul
I've been out and about before and heard them make some strange noises.
Imagine hearing that in the pitch black then
Not sure about the noises. I know Jays/Magpies make a lot of noise when there are predators about. You may have been hearing more than one bird distress calling at a predator.
The link below is to the RSPB website it lists all british bird species and you can listen to their calls, so may be helpful.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/a/index.asp
Regards
Rob
I have lived in the country most of my life, and my farther is a trained game keeper, who has given me alot of knowledge of the country.
I know precisely the difference between the noises of Jays and magpies, i know the noises grey squirrels make. Paul's suggestion of a long eared is interesting as i've not heard what their calls are like. If i had some recording equipment i'd like to record it. but my phone is about the only thing, and i dont think it would pick it up.
As i said the noise was weird. It was the croke/purr which i'm puzzled by. If it had been just the buzzard and owl noises i'd of just thought it was a buzzand and an owl.
But the noise really made the hair stand on end.
My only thought would be if Ravens could/would copy other birds calls?