"Sounds like a grasshopper", Claygate, UK, 13th March (1 Viewer)

[mathare]

A friend of mine was walking round "leafy" Claygate (Surrey) on Sunday early afternoon and heard a bird she described as sounding like a grasshopper. She was on a suburban street - trees, manicured front gardens, a few hedges etc.

She's listened to a few bird sounds online (and I have played her plenty more!) but the closest she can get is Grasshopper Warbler.

She's adamant it sounded like a grasshopper, that sort of chirpy noise. Little variation in the notes. Very short pauses between the sounds based on the feedback I've got when I played her various songs & calls.

I tried all the common birds (Robin, tits etc) plus things like the rattly call of Mistle Thrush and Wren, Treecreeper and all the common warblers. Only Grasshopper Warbler came anywhere near. But it can't have been a Grasshopper Warbler can it? It's a month too early, surely...

Anyone got any ideas for other potential matches I could try?

Thanks
Mat

 

[Nutcracker]

What about insects? Some can be surprisingly loud. Try crickets (widely sold as pet food for 'exotic' pets, can escape easily).

 

[mathare]

She was convinced it was a bird but can't put her finger on why, which makes us both suspect the sound was coming from above. That in turn made me look more towards birds I'd expect to see in trees rather than in garden borders or hedges. And away from insects too - I had considered crickets.

 

[occasional]

If it is one of these

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gryllotalpa_gryllotalpa

she has found something interesting.

 

[Nutcracker]

If it is one of these

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gryllotalpa_gryllotalpa

she has found something interesting.

That's one species of cricket that it wouldn't be! There are many others, many of which will go up trees.

Also check out cicadas (also tree-dwelling).

 

[FergusJBend]

A friend of mine was walking round "leafy" Claygate (Surrey) on Sunday early afternoon and heard a bird she described as sounding like a grasshopper. She was on a suburban street - trees, manicured front gardens, a few hedges etc.

She's listened to a few bird sounds online (and I have played her plenty more!) but the closest she can get is Grasshopper Warbler.

She's adamant it sounded like a grasshopper, that sort of chirpy noise. Little variation in the notes. Very short pauses between the sounds based on the feedback I've got when I played her various songs & calls.

I tried all the common birds (Robin, tits etc) plus things like the rattly call of Mistle Thrush and Wren, Treecreeper and all the common warblers. Only Grasshopper Warbler came anywhere near. But it can't have been a Grasshopper Warbler can it? It's a month too early, surely...

Anyone got any ideas for other potential matches I could try?

Thanks
Mat

Tinitus?

 

[Torchepot]

By a strange coincidence my wife and I heard something very similar today. Just couldn't get a clear view but it was being made by one of a pair of birds in a courtship display. My best guess would be coal tit but if not one of the other tits or crests. Sounded very grasshopper like, but there were other notes being made too.