What UK bird makes a noise like a chirping cricket? (1 Viewer)

[Onlyhuman]

Hi, my first post here,

Half an hour ago I was sitting in the sunshine in my garden in NE England for the first time this year. A bird in the hedge behind me made an unusual noise, an uninterrupted, mechanical whirring sound, rather like a cricket chirping. I tried to turn to see it but it flew off and I only got a glimpse. Maybe starling sized or smaller, but it seemed to fly with more undulation than I would expect in a starling.

Any suggestions?

 

[Jonny721]

Sounds like a Grasshopper Warbler, their call is almost exactly the same as a grasshoppers (or crickets) and would fit with the size of the bird you saw.

and Welcome to Birdforum

 

[Azzy]

Welcome to the forum. There's a site here, with a search for grasshopper warbler, sounds like the match seems to be pretty easy already, but it's good to double check. Have a listen http://www.xeno-canto.org/browse.php?query=grasshopper+warbler I listened to the second recording (from the UK), an exceptional sounding bird!

 

[Onlyhuman]

Ooh, that's quite exciting then. I listened to the recordings Azzy, that was definitely it, and the description in the Collins Bird Guide fits well too: peculiar, insect-like, mechanical.

Thanks, you've made my day!