Screeching recently stopped

lightening

There was a screeching noise outside my house for a long time that just stopped. Could it be bats that have since gone in to hibernation? I will describe the circumstances...

I live beside a huge park with lots of wooded areas. There are lots of old buildings around. The screeching is only at night time and sounds a bit like faint swifts. It's deffo coming from the sky, I can never ever see what it is though, always to dark.

patrickdt10

lightening wrote: »

There was a screeching noise outside my house for a long time that just stopped. Could it be bats that have since gone in to hibernation? I will describe the circumstances...

I live beside a huge park with lots of wooded areas. There are lots of old buildings around. The screeching is only at night time and sounds a bit like faint swifts. It's deffo coming from the sky, I can never ever see what it is though, always to dark.

i wont swear, but id say its bats. youl always here them outside at night at my house. not lately though(hibernation as you say) but sure what else could it be?? im in the middle of the country though!

stevensi

It might have been owls or maybe redwings arriving for winter?

The Hill Billy

Screeching wouldn't be from bats. Owls maybe, but not bats.
It's very hard to say without a better description of the "screech".

thelurch

I know exactly what you mean, They are redwings, arriving here for the winter, they fly quite low and keep in contact with calls. Always fly at night. They are like a thrush in likeness.

lightening

Thanks people. The screeching is exactly that of a swift except a lot feinter. It is only at night and has stopped in the last couple of months. I am half sure I saw a bat flitter across the streetlamp once. Can post up a link to red wings?

As I said I am beside a 240acre woodland park and about 300 metres from the shore, across a lagoon, then the salt marshes and then Dollymount island. So the area is no stranger to wildlife.

Its just can't bloody see anything from the light pollution. There is a huge yellow streetlamp outside the house.

jmkennedyie

if it was a few months ago - late summer - then maybe young long-eared owls? They are said to sound like squeaking old gates.

lightening

Yeah, could be. Next year when I hear it again I will get a big torch and try and see what it is. I will resurrect this thread and tell you all.

Thanks.