Hello from Western North Carolina! (1 Viewer)

[O' Darkness]

Howdy folks! I found this forum during a maddening quest to discover the identity of what I believe is a bird, but it could be Sasquatch for all all I know!🤣

I tried the Merlin app and many other resources without success. I've heard this eerie, ethereal call several times, but until this morning I couldn't catch it on video. I just happened to be at my desk next to the window when it began, so I did the best I could.

For the love of God, please tell me this is a bird before I begin hanging garlic and dreamcatchers throughout my home!
View attachment WEIRD.mp3

 

[O' Darkness]

Dang, I almost forgot to introduce myself: So, I'm a male in my upper forties and an administrator of several XenForo-based forums much like this one; NCangler.com, VN750.com (Kawasaki Vulcan 750 forum) and a new one that I created called 123easy4me.com.

I'm a tech guru with over thirty years of computer design and repair, general electronics repair and web design. I'm a published author, a multi-instrumentalist (guitar is my favorite) and a lapsed Radio-Control aeronautic enthusiast. Until recently, I was a motorcyclist, but I had one spill too many and have given up that hobby. My newest adventure is 3D printing.

 

[delia todd]

Hi O' Darkness and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators. I'll move your post to the ID forum as they're better placed to be able to help you. It would help them if you could advise where in the country you took the recording

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.

EDIT: Oooops: See it is in the thread title LOL North Carolina.... sorry.

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum. I hope you enjoy your visits.

 

[O' Darkness]

Hi O' Darkness and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators. I'll move your post to the ID forum as they're better placed to be able to help you. It would help them if you could advise where in the country you took the recording

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.

EDIT: Oooops: See it is in the thread title LOL North Carolina.... sorry.

Thanks! I don't mind sharing specifics. I'm in Franklin, which is in Macon county. For a more precise location, search for the Cowee Baptist Church, I'm near it. There's a lot of whip-poor-wills in this area, and all kinds of other amazing birds, but I've lived here for most of my life and only within the past year heard the sound I've shared. Whatever it is, it's elusive or maybe even rare.

 

[O' Darkness]

Welcome to Birdforum. I hope you enjoy your visits.

Thank you!

 

[nartreb]

The odd two-note call is interspersed with a four-part noise -- the first part is a bit fartlike, the other three parts sound more like swishing or rubbing. Actually, it reminds me of the sword-swing sound effect from the Fruit Ninja game. Is that coming from the same direction as the two-note call?

 

[Lisa W]

Hi, welcome to the forum. I think you will find us a friendly and helpful group.

 

[O' Darkness]

The odd two-note call is interspersed with a four-part noise -- the first part is a bit fartlike, the other three parts sound more like swishing or rubbing. Actually, it reminds me of the sword-swing sound effect from the Fruit Ninja game. Is that coming from the same direction as the two-note call?

I suppose you must be the resident comedian, huh? I've never played Fruit Ninja, so I'm unaware of the sounds made within it. I live on the top (literally) of a mountain, with nothing around me for at least 1/4 mile in almost all directions.

 

[Ruff-Leg]

I suppose you must be the resident comedian, huh? I've never played Fruit Ninja, so I'm unaware of the sounds made within it. I live on the top (literally) of a mountain, with nothing around me for at least 1/4 mile in almost all directions.

Hi O'D.

So, it's a night creature, obviously. We can rule out owls in your area. Can't comment on herps. Kind of leaves the nightjars. I can't figure out the odd, scratching two-note intro, but the four-part sounds like an aberrant or poorly-developed Whip-poor-will vocalization. Beyond that, I'm stumped. Yes, I'm in AZ, but the bulk of my birding life has been in the mid-Atlantic.

I've never heard of Fruit Ninja either, but Nartreb's a good guy.

 

[O' Darkness]

Hi O'D.

So, it's a night creature, obviously. We can rule out owls in your area. Can't comment on herps. Kind of leaves the nightjars. I can't figure out the odd, scratching two-note intro, but the four-part sounds like an aberrant or poorly-developed Whip-poor-will vocalization. Beyond that, I'm stumped. Yes, I'm in AZ, but the bulk of my birding life has been in the mid-Atlantic.

I've never heard of Fruit Ninja either, but Nartreb's a good guy.

We have owls! Many of them, in fact. But I think you're right about the nightjar.

I think many of you might be missing the entirety of the call. Listen to it with headphones.

EDIT: Not the nightjar. Still trying to figure it out.