More noises in the night
The first and loudest was the clattering call of a magpie. This is often an alarm call, frequently heard in daylight hours, but uncommon in the wee small hours. It continued for around fifteen minutes.
At the same time, a female tawny owl was calling persistently, a soft ‘kee-wick,’ but there was no corresponding ‘hoo-hoo’ from a male, so she was clearly not inviting a mate.
A third higher-pitched sound created a counterpoint to the first two sounds. In musical notation, the score (ahem!) would have appeared as an ostinato bass clef A, a repeated middle C ‘kee-wick,’ and a high C exclamation.
I think the quick high C may have been a cry for help from an unfortunate rodent. This cry is an attempt to make the predator desist, or to warn others of imminent danger. It is not often successful.
I wondered, though, if Mrs Owl was attempting to procure a magpie fledgling snack, and that was why the adult was rattling so vigorously. I also wondered if there was more than one owl marauding, and that was the reason for so many high-pitched squeaks.
After twenty minutes, peace was restored, the cats abandoned their vigil and returned to my legs, and night-time slumber claimed us all once more.
Naturally, Barry and the dogs slept through it all.
There was no evidence in the garden this morning of any murder, but then there rarely is.
When strange noises are heard one always wonders what is going on. You've described the possibilities very well.
ReplyDeleteThey always seem more desperate in the middle of the night.
DeleteMagpies are so loud!
ReplyDeleteThey certainly are!
DeleteNoisy dinner! One Magpie baby slipped inside an owl , sounds like a perfect wilderness morning....for the owl.
ReplyDeleteThe fledglings can't all survive - we would be overwhelmed.
DeleteIf there was a murder, it was not of crows, apparently.
ReplyDeleteVery good! 😂🤣
DeleteStrange night noises here are almost always possums "barking" on the roof. It's a loud "hoarse" sound that echoes off into the night. The sound is similar to the scare guns used to scare birds away from fruit orchards.
ReplyDeleteI just had to go and find some clips of possums - noisy aren't they?
DeleteNeat bit of detective work here!
ReplyDeleteI could be entirely wrong, of course.
DeleteMagpies are wonderful looking birds, but at this time of year they are in next doors jungle after the nest contents, Lilly our cat hates them already, if she chases one it will go for her rather than fly away.
ReplyDeleteMagpies, and all the corvids, are a menace to fledglings, but they all have to eat. It won't be long before your magpies show Lilly a little more respect.
DeleteWe think of birds is just being pretty and musical. But we know for a fact don't we that they can certainly let out a warning call. We have what is called a screech owl and let me tell you it sounds like a human baby being brutalized when it's screams. Makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
ReplyDeleteIt's always more alarming in the middle of the night.
DeleteNothing good happens between midnight and daylight in the human world, and it seems not in the animal world either.
ReplyDeleteTrue!
DeleteWhy is it that things like this always happen in the wee hours.
ReplyDeleteIt's more noticeable when normal daytime noises are silent.
DeleteI've never seen a magpie, but it sure is pretty. Wow..you had a lot happening during the wee hours. How wonderful it must be to live amongst such nature. We hear dogs barking...the train at 2:00 A.M. and sirens since we live in town... I think I'm ready to move to the Country...
ReplyDelete😂🤣
DeleteMagpies are such handsome birds but very arrogant and destructive. We have a pair that walk about the place as though they own it and I fear for the eggs and young of the wrens and other small birds that nest in my garden. I'm very found of tawny owls and cannot pretend to be upset if they are eating young magpies!
ReplyDeleteNature, red in tooth and claw - there are always victims of one sort or another.
DeleteLots of night action! -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteYes!
DeleteI always wonder about those night sounds. We hear high pitched squealing now and again which sets off all the neighborhood dogs.
ReplyDeleteI certainly wouldn't go out to investigate. Sounds of the night are better heard inside lol
Interesting to hear yours
I agree. Our cats don't go out at night, though I'm sure they'd enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes hear the feral cats fighting. But other than that it's usually just screamer lady walking by screaming that wakes me up. lol
ReplyDeleteThat would worry me more than any wild animal!
DeleteYears ago, I lived in a rural area and would sometimes hear the haunting cries of coyotes. That is a sound I'll never forget. There are no magpies in my part of the United States but we have American crows and blue jays, both very intelligent.
ReplyDeleteYour blue jays are beautiful. I admire all the corvids.
DeleteWe often see signs of some night time drama that has slipped by us while we slept. Our night creatures are not so fastidious about cleaning up after their murders.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure ours clean up after themselves - I think they go elsewhere to commit their atrocities, probably next-door's garden!
DeleteSorry you had your sleep disturbed...
ReplyDeleteI had to smile when your wrote "Naturally, Barry and the dogs slept through it all."
All the best Jan
I shouldn't be surprised - he never woke up for our crying babies, either!
DeleteBoth Bess and I would have woken from our slumber, but I'm sure that Jos would have slept right through it all. Love your description of the nighttime noises. Murder might have indeed been involved. Unfortunately most of the nighttime noises here are of the human variety! xxx
ReplyDeleteOn balance, I'd prefer to hear wildlife noises. 😊
ReplyDeleteInteresting! Could be the magpie was clattering just as a warning in response to the owl's presence, even if it wasn't after a magpie chick. It does sound like the rodent was the intended target.
ReplyDeleteThey don't normally call at night, and that's what puzzled me. You're probably right.
ReplyDeleteNoises outside during the night always seem so much more intense and loud and it doesn't take much for our imaginations to run wild.
ReplyDelete. . especially when you're woken from a deep sleep!
DeleteStrange goings-ons in your nighttime garden.
ReplyDeleteIt's entertainment, of a sort.
ReplyDeleteHear all kind of noises in the night and early morning, in our huge park it must be foxes and owls, later ducks and swans and a lot of craws which make more noise then a truck ! Nature is nice and romantic but I need my sleep, so I sleep with earplugs !!
ReplyDeleteThat's a sensible solution, Ingrid .😊
DeleteThe only nighttime sounds I usually hear is husband snoring lol. He's driving me bonkers
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely camping when I got up before dawn and there was a chorus of birds. It was so loud! Last year when we went camping I could hear the sound of two Loons calling one another. It really is a haunting sound and quite beautiful!
There's so much going on in the world in the early hours. It's lovely to be awake in the calm and quiet.
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