Neil Calbrade wrote:

---

Just to throw another (unlikely) suggestion into the mix, Northern Mockingbirds regularly sing at night and are fantastic mimics and as these clips off Xeno Canto shows, not that dissimilar to blackbird in quality...

http://www.xeno-canto.org/14213

http://www.xeno-canto.org/13610

---

Check about 17 posts down from yours Neil. Mockingbird was considered very early on, if only though sheer optimism

Any bird mimicry always reminds me of that scene from Life of Birds where the Lyrebird goes through his repertoire of camera shutter, camera shutter with motorwind, car alarm and then chainsaws. Absolutely jaw droppingly realistic. And with the chainsaw surely a little tragic !


Now that would be impressive in Rochdale !!!

(scenes on youtube if you haven't seen it).

Just to throw another (unlikely) suggestion into the mix, Northern Mockingbirds regularly sing at night and are fantastic mimics and as these clips off Xeno Canto shows, not that dissimilar to blackbird in quality...

http://www.xeno-canto.org/14213

http://www.xeno-canto.org/13610

Geoff Piercy wrote:

---

Hi Mark, I wandered round there at about 3 o clock this morning, and it was singing from a high branch in the top of a tree. I was directly below it and I could see it was the right size and shape for it to be a blackbird, but there was not enough light for me to say 100 per cent what it was. I take it you had a better view of it than I, and I agree a very talented individual it is. I would urge anyone who has the time, to make the most of this opportunity, and go hear it "live".

---

geoff,i managed to go have a nosey around between 5.30-6.30pm (obviously not a pm singer) plus a little bit noisy from the local teenagers in the park,but it did not stop the very noisy tawny owl in the area
listened to the recording,brilliant certainly a very talented blackbird. but is it just me or after 28seconds off the recording there is some speach

Hi Mark, I wandered round there at about 3 o clock this morning, and it was singing from a high branch in the top of a tree. I was directly below it and I could see it was the right size and shape for it to be a blackbird, but there was not enough light for me to say 100 per cent what it was. I take it you had a better view of it than I, and I agree a very talented individual it is. I would urge anyone who has the time, to make the most of this opportunity, and go hear it "live".

Its a talented Blackbird, singing next to a street light this morning. Thanks for the info Goeff, very interesting bird and great to hear

I also think that this is a Blackbird singing. I am lucky to be able to listen to one most mornings in my works yard if I go in early enough, the amount of variation in its song can be astounding.

Could it be a jay, I've heard them sing very songbird-like songs at times (often quietly). They also mimick both other birds and man-made noises too. There's a couple of interesting recordings on Xeno-Canto:

Song:

http://www.xeno-canto.org/46223

Mimicking a golden oriole:

http://www.xeno-canto.org/45004

Not quite sure why a jay would be singing in the middle of the night however!

I'd also go for a very unusual Blackbird!

Are we all listening to the same song here?????

There used to be an African Grey Parrot that lived in our road that was a brilliant mimic.

Also, whats the name of the african bird that mimics chainsaws, etc?

I'm thinking more down the cage bird lines - Cockatiel or something like that

Couldn't just be a starling immitating a police siren could it? I heard one just like that once.

I think we should just listen to the song before jumping to conclusions based on nothing guys. I've only recently just come back from hearing Myna's abroad and it isn't one

Listening to the song over and over again it does have qualities of say, a Blackbird and I'm aware they can be incredible mimics though have never really heard this from them myself. Hmmm

Could it be a tremendously mimic capeable Blackbird?

Sound file now on the 'county notice board' of the website.

I was thinking the same thing John. Heard loads of them in New Zealand and they can sing in very flutey tones!!

Escaped Myna bird would be my guess

Starling ? They are well known mimics and have a variety of songs.

Ian McKerchar wrote:

---

Whilst I'm trying to upload it, you can forget your Robins, Dunnocks and Blackbirds too, this one's a cracker. So much so it has me stumped .

It has thrush like qualities but then bursts into remarkable mimicry of passing emergency vehicle two-tones and the like. I've considered such as Mockingbird but they usually repeat the same phrases three or four times before moving on and this doesn't appear to. Other than that I'm pretty stumped, which is all quite exciting for me at least! It's certainly not a European species (not unless it's an extremely abberant song) and is likely some form of escapee, but what? Anyone in the area might like to take a look around and try to see the critter (just in case I'm completely wrong too), which Geoff says in the short view he had in the darkness looked akin to a blackbird!

---

ian,think i might pop up there tommorow aft/eve was gonna see how the peregrines are anyway and i am very curious about this

What's a Dusky Thrush sound like, Ian?

Steve

Whilst I'm trying to upload it, you can forget your Robins, Dunnocks and Blackbirds too, this one's a cracker. So much so it has me stumped .

It has thrush like qualities but then bursts into remarkable mimicry of passing emergency vehicle two-tones and the like. I've considered such as Mockingbird but they usually repeat the same phrases three or four times before moving on and this doesn't appear to. Other than that I'm pretty stumped, which is all quite exciting for me at least! It's certainly not a European species (not unless it's an extremely abberant song) and is likely some form of escapee, but what? Anyone in the area might like to take a look around and try to see the critter (just in case I'm completely wrong too), which Geoff says in the short view he had in the darkness looked akin to a blackbird!

Another update. I have managed to record the sound and forwarded it to Ian Mckerchar. The bird has started singing even earlier in the morning, heard it at 3a.m.wed morning, 2.30a.m. thur morning and it was in full voice this morning from at least 1.30a.m. Matt thanks for your offer at the moment I will leave it with Ian, who is going to try to get it uploaded to the website.

Geoff

Is it saved on your phone as a file? if so you could text it to me and I could have a listen?

Let me know and I will give you my number.

Thanks

Matt

Steve Bostock wrote:

---

i forwarded your post to the wildlifeofrochdale site, here is a reply-

There are only a few birds that sing at this time of the year.
I think your bird is a Robin.My reasoning is Robins have four songs,the Winter and Spring being different in that the Winter song is sad and melancholy.Its my opinion the spell of fine weather of late triggered this this bird into holding teritory.I bet there was a street lamp close by!
Hope this helped,Cheers Alan

he also says you can google the robin winter song to compare.

steve b

---

Hi Steve Thanks again for trying to help out with this. Thanks also to wildlifeofrochdale Yes there is street light near by, yes there were at least 3 robins singing and a wren and blackbird giving a half hearted alarm call. I know and recognise the more common species songs. The bird I am hearing I believe is something not native to UK or could be an escapee of some sort. As I mentioned previously, I have audio recording of it just don't know how to (technicaly) share this with the community.

i forwarded your post to the wildlifeofrochdale site, here is a reply-

There are only a few birds that sing at this time of the year.
I think your bird is a Robin.My reasoning is Robins have four songs,the Winter and Spring being different in that the Winter song is sad and melancholy.Its my opinion the spell of fine weather of late triggered this this bird into holding teritory.I bet there was a street lamp close by!
Hope this helped,Cheers Alan

he also says you can google the robin winter song to compare.

steve b

Update - I was able to get the song recorded to my mobile phone, but not technical enough enough to upload to computer, anyway i got no cables or whatever to do this. John night shift is not too bad just it's at the wrong time of day lol.

*Edit* Just seen you mention, so not a Song Thrush? Good luck Iding it and good luck working nights - they're tough!


-- Edited by John Doherty on Wednesday 9th of November 2011 02:44:57 PM

Hi Steven. Thanks for trying to help but sorry it's not a dipper, and the area it sings from is not near water. There must be someone who's up and about at that time of morning who could come and have a listen, you don't even to get out of your car if you park on St Albans Street (this street runs along the south side of Broadfield Park) at the Manchester Road end. Even if you don't recognise it, it's worth listening to because it's a beautiful song.

hi geoff,you dont happen to be near a river/stream or brook do you because you could try DIPPER !

Thanks Steve but no not a dunnock. The song is much fuller, louder and more "flutey". As i said similar to blackbird, nightingale ish, also reminiscent of song thrush. Definiteley not one of the more common birds, which I would have i.d.ed easily. I hear it as I am finishing work early in the morning, but it's only the last 2 mornings it's been singing, so am thinking winter visitor, and by the way it's not redwing, or fieldfare.

maybe a dunnock ?

have a listen here


http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/d/dunnock/index.aspx

Hi new to this website and would firstly like to say hello. I am a night shift worker in Rochdale and work close to Broadfield Park. The last 2 mornings at around 4 a.m. a bird has started singing in the south west corner of the park but I haven't got a clue to what it is. I believe it is a thrush of some sort but again might be another family. It has elements of blackbird, but also nightingale, but would imagine nightingales would have left for warmer climates by now. It's not mistle thrush or robin. If anyone is up early around this area please take a listen and help me out with i.d. Apologies if I have posted in the wrong section.

-- Edited by geoffpeo on Tuesday 8th of November 2011 08:18:58 PM