A relative of mine was out walking this morning around a farm and she phoned me to say she had heard something that sounded like a corncrake. As it is not the season for corncrakes to be appearing I'm suspecting it is something else but I can't really think what. Both of us walk around the farm regularly and are pretty much used to the usual bird calls that go on there.
Anyone have any suggestions for other birds that could be in the Aberdeenshire/Angus area of Scotland?
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
Do you know how close the call was approx? and what kind of cover the bird was in, so as not to be seen?
John :-)
For viewing or photography right place right time is everything. I'd rather be in the right place with poor kit than have the best kit and be in the wrong place.
KatTai said:Anyone have any suggestions for other birds that could be in the Aberdeenshire/Angus area of Scotland?
Could it have been a red-legged partridge or even a grey partridge. They've both got fairly scratchy sounding calls.
TJ
____________________________________________________________________
Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Unknown said: Could it have been a red-legged partridge or even a grey partridge. They've both got fairly scratchy sounding calls. TJ
Hi TJ, yes I think you could be right. I have seen what I'm sure were grey partridge there a few months ago and they or the red-legged seem to be the most likely suspect!
Unknown said: Do you know how close the call was approx? and what kind of cover the bird was in, so as not to be seen? John :-)
Hi John,
If I have the location right, the bird was heard in a relatively small farm field that seems to just have been left to grow wild - though it must get cut every few years otherwise shrubs would have started taking over. The grass is pretty long and it is great for wildflowers and invertebrates in the summer. I think the call was pretty close because it was descibed as being very loud, and it echoed.
Kat
Mmm, Partridge is a maybe, the red-legged would be my favorite out of them but if you say echoing then perhaps Woodcock is a candidate. Play all for your friend and see if one fits.
Hi KatTai
Might it have been, master of mimics, a starling? I've heard one here in Shetland doing a corncrake.
Cheers
Helen
Hi,
Helen's starling idea is worth considering now we know the location of the caller, although normally a singing starling would be up on a perch and visible :)
:)
S
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
I still think the partridge is the most likely suspect, the painful high-pitched bit on the woodcocks song makes me doubt it is that though they are certainly loud! There are partridges around there because I've seen them and they don't tend to fly off until you're right on top of them. I know starlings are mimics but it just seems a bit out of the ordinary for one to be singing on the ground, plus there were no other starlings spotted around either.