16 replies to this topic

[WatchNettle]

Hey all! I'm new to the forums but I have been using Whatbird for some time now. I absolutely love it!

So I have just moved to a farm in New Hampshire and just last night I noticed a new call coming from the forest. It was repetative and sounded like someones wind mill was a little off. It went on for hours. Thinking it was a man made noise I shut the window. Now I am sitting here this evening and there it is again! Only now I can tell it is some sort of bird. Atleast I think it is... Any ideas?

[TheBillyPilgrim]

I'd actually lean frog species on this one. Most of the owl or nightjar calls you would hear are more complex than your description and would be tough to mistake for anything but a bird call. Unfortunately, I'm not from the northeast so I don't know any of your frog species!

[WatchNettle]

I figured it out! Northern Saw-whet owl!!!! I also thought frog since we have loads of those singing well into the night but I just searched owls in NH and listened to their calls until I found the right one. Luckily there were only about ten to go through. lol I wish I could get a look at him at some point.

[BarnSwallow]

Can you record it? Even a little snippet might help. Congrats on the farm in NH - it's beautiful there!

[WatchNettle]

Figured it out! It is a Northern Saw-whet Owl. So cool! I also thought it was frogs and then I just did a search for Owls in New Hampshire. There were only ten so I just listened to each of their calls until I hit the right one. I hope at some point I can snap a pic of him.

I love living in New Hampshire. I have seen Bald Eagles, A broad Winged Hawk shows up every evening to hunt, and I swear I have a Common Sand Piper even though they are supposed to live elsewhere. lol

[WatchNettle]

Okay so there is a delay in these posts... I thought the first one didn't show up so I posted the last one. Oops!

[BarnSwallow]

Check out solitary sandpiper. Congrats on the saw-whet - hope you see it!

[WatchNettle]

Solitary Sandpiper has too many spots. Mine is a smooth sandy color and has all the manerisms described in the Peterson Field Guide and Whatbird. I'm going to try and get a picture of him soon. On my farm I have a swampy run off area with frogs and tad poles and salamanders. It's fresh water and this is where I have seen him about three times now.

[BarnSwallow]

Common sandpiper doesn't occur in the US. There may be a couple sighted on rare occasions, but it is highly unlikely.

[WatchNettle]

I know. Which is why I'm baffled. I will absolutley post a pic on here as soon as I can get one.

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

I'm almost certain that you're seeing a Spotted Sandpiper. They're very closely related to Common Sandpipers, and look very similar.

[Liam]

I'm almost certain that you're seeing a Spotted Sandpiper. They're very closely related to Common Sandpipers, and look very similar.

I agree. In transition and nonbreeding plumage they can resemble Common Sandpipers.

[WatchNettle]

Ok

[BirdingBlues]

Figured it out! It is a Northern Saw-whet Owl. So cool! I also thought it was frogs and then I just did a search for Owls in New Hampshire. There were only ten so I just listened to each of their calls until I hit the right one. I hope at some point I can snap a pic of him.

I love living in New Hampshire. I have seen Bald Eagles, A broad Winged Hawk shows up every evening to hunt, and I swear I have a Common Sand Piper even though they are supposed to live elsewhere. lol

NH rocks!

[WatchNettle]

NH rocks!

I know! I'm so excited about the Owl! So excited!

[PoorMatty]

You can sometimes find Saw-whets roosting during the day, and if you do, they allow very close approach and are very hesitant to flush. Sometimes they are in tangles of honeysuckle, etc. about head height and other times they are up against the trunks of tall trees about halfway up. They are tough to spot just cause they're so small and still and well-camouflaged, but when you do find them, they're easy to get good looks at.

[WatchNettle]

You can sometimes find Saw-whets roosting during the day, and if you do, they allow very close approach and are very hesitant to flush. Sometimes they are in tangles of honeysuckle, etc. about head height and other times they are up against the trunks of tall trees about halfway up. They are tough to spot just cause they're so small and still and well-camouflaged, but when you do find them, they're easy to get good looks at.

Thanks for that info! I am definitely planning a recon mission. The woods where their calls are coming from are pretty coniferous and super thick. I think my chances of spotting one are pretty slim but I'm still gonna try!