Hello Alison and welcome from me up in the very far north of Scotland, in Caithness. I love your exlplanation in musical terms! I don't have an answer, maybe you do have some sort of oddity! We are a friendly bunch here, always someone at hand to help, maybe later on as folks log on after tea. Hope you enjoy being here.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Thanks for the welcomes.I don't know if it's just the one bird or several because the calls come from many directions. Perhaps the "oddity" has taught its call to its offspring!
Hi Alison, funny you should say that. Just yesterday I was listening to one in my garden doing exactly the same thing, three notes at the end! I'm in Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Hi Alison, and welcome! I've heard the occasional Woodie making a three 'beat' call too. Maybe there is a bit of competition about and it pays to stand out in the crowd with a slight variation on the usual call. I'm sure you're right and the young ones will learn it too. I'm in 'sunny' ;) South Wales...
Dotty
I read in my Wood Pigeon book years ago that an extra note at the end of their usual call indicated that the bird was breeding. I've always called it an 'extra oooh at the end of the song' which isn't perhaps as good a description as yours lol ... but I'm sure this is what it is.
That's really interesting Molly, thank you