Help identifying nocturnal bird song (possible owl?)

sudocremegg

South Kilkenny in a hilly area with woodland nearby and a small river and stream.

It was about 3a.m and it was very loud, almost echoed. Sounded in the field beside my house less than 100m away.

It was 4 quick "hoo hoo hoo hoo" patterns every 10 seconds, repeated a few times followed by "woooo-ah" It almost sounded tropical. Not like any owl I've ever heard, or pheasant etc. Definitely not a fox.

It was very bird like, and almost the same tone as a wooden recorder being played.

I've searched all day and listened to tons of videos of various owls and animals and only thing I can find that remotely resembles it is a "Western screech owl" which afaik we don't have in Ireland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_dhr1vrEq4

Except it didn't bleat with increasing tempo like in this video it was a constant tone aside from the occasional "wooo-ah".

Really impressive and I've never heard the likes of it in Ireland and I've very used to hearing nature and nocturnal animal noises.

Need help! Maybe it wasn't a bird at all?

walshtipp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058385951/help-identifying-nocturnal-bird-song-possible-owl

Possibly a long eared owl? Only bird I can think of with a call like that.

sudocremegg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122999495#Comment_122999495

Possibly yes. I've listened to the short eared owl now also, and it was very like this video but with a higher tone and more alarmed sounding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRLzdhQsIqc

emo72

Short ear owl at the end there, would scare the shite outta ya hearing that late at night.

New Home

Little owl, perhaps? They have an amazing variety of calls, their screeches would put you in mind of a banshee.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wNsBurEq62M