Good evening Class
A little test for you today. Please
write down what ten UK birds you think make the following calls.
Sip
Siiiiiiiiii
Je-je
Chuck chuck
Chup
Seeeeep
Chack chack chack
Zherck
Jupp
Squeak squeak squeak
Please note that although I will be scoring
you out of 10, there are no right answers. This is simply how I would write
down the flight calls of common UK birds you might expect to get around now whilst
partaking in that most excellent of pastimes, viz-migging. I had an excellent
session this morning where seemingly every bird in the sky was calling
(makes a change) and as I was listening to either flocks or singletons go over
my mind wandered as to how I would describe what I was doing to people walking
by – some of whom see me regularly yet none of whom stop to ask, presumably out
of a not unreasonable fear I am a psychotic weirdo, standing as I do morning
after morning seemingly looking at an empty sky. Were I to be asked however,
the conversation would go along the lines of that I was listening for birds
flying over, and that yes, I was able
to distinguish between species simply based on their calls. I would then
proceed to do an impression of a Brambling, which I imagine I would end the
encounter quite quickly. I digress. Answers below please, I am genuinely
interested to know if what I have written above corresponds to anyone else’s
interpretation of these calls. Note that I have not referenced any form of
field guide for this, this is just me writing down the sounds I have in my mind’s
eye. Ear. Whatever.
|
clue |
So, with years of viz-migging experience under my belt combined with an alcohol-filled mind, this seems really rather simple. Top Ten Countdown are Song Thrush, Redwing, Spanish Laughing Thrush, a Northern lass on the pull, Chaffinch, Mexican Redwing, Fieldfare, a Polish shopkeeper, Greenfinch and flock of nervy Mipits. How'd I do? Full-house? Nope, didn't think so either. Nice post though, thank you.
ReplyDelete3 right! Some very good wrongs though!
DeleteHawfinch, Hawfinch, Hawfinch, two Hawfinches, Hawfinch, Hawfinch, Hawfinch, Hawfinch, Mute Swan's wings, Hawfinch
ReplyDeleteThat's a detention I'm afraid Steve.
DeleteMarsh Warbler?
ReplyDeleteI think you are joining Mr Gale after school.
DeleteJe-je is redpoll, Zherck is Brambling and squeak squeak squeak is Sooty
ReplyDelete100 lines.
Delete"Sooty is mute, Sweep squeaks"
Sue me
DeleteHawfinch Siskin Chaffinch Fieldfare crossbill redwing Ring ouzel Brambling Yellowhammer mipit
ReplyDeleteFour for Hawky!
DeleteCLASS UPDATE: Combined, the entrants have got 7 right.
ReplyDelete1) Hawfinch or even Song Thrush? 2) Yellowhammer? 3) 4) Redpoll? 5) Chaffinch 6) Redwing 7) Ring Ouzel 8) Brambling??? 9) Greenfinch?, I think of it as jub jub jub 10) Meadow Pipit
ReplyDeleteFour for James!
Delete