Bird? Calls

[alpha_centaur]

The last couple of nights when I've been out walking the dog, I've been hearing this weird sound/call that I think is a bird.

Location: Coastal / Machair, West Coast of Scotland
Time: Dusk
Sound: It sounds something like the noise that a ruler makes when you vibrateded it off the edge of a table but lower or a kite when it's really ripping the air, It sounds more like a vibration than a sound. If that makes any sense.

Anybody got any ideas.

[Angus Og]

Might be a bit early for a Corncrake but try the link below top left hand corner there is a listen button.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/corncrake/index.asp

[alpha_centaur]

Nope nothing like that its more long, drawn out, deeper and almost sounds like the bird is flying round you as the sound happens.

I'm gonna go back tonight and try to get a recording.

[locum76]

i can't wait to hear that, i've been trying to get into the habit of identifying birds by their call recently. which is really hard unless someone can let you hear an example.

[Tor helge]

I would suggest it was a Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago). We call it "hømmergauk" which rudely translated to English is "humming cookoo" (nothing to do with an ordinary cookoo, Cuculus canorus).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Gallinago_gallinago_6_%28Marek _Szczepanek%29.jpg/260px-Gallinago_gallinago_6_%28Marek _Szczepanek%29.jpg

It makes the noise you describe when flying trough the air. It is done with vibrating some of his tail feathers I think.

Tor

[Justin Time]

Second vote for the snipe, I've heard people use the word "thrumming" to describe the sound.
You'll find a recording of it on the RSPB site here (http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/snipe/index.asp), click on the play button on the top left.

HTH

[Barn Owl]

I'd say Snipe too.

[DoctorSpoon]

The drumming noise that snipe make is part of their courting ritual - they swoop downwards quite steeply and I think it's their outside tail feathers that vibrate as they descend and make the noise. It's very distinctive and, as you say, quite like vibrating a ruler off the edge of a desk!

[British Red]

Could very will be a cock pheasant drumming its wings too

It would be punctuated with a croaking call now and again if so

Red

[alpha_centaur]

Nope I think it's the snipe.

Thanks guy's that was driving me nut's trying to work out what it was.