Unusual Bird Call

[Castrol for a knave]

While pottering in the garden I heard an unusual bird call.

The bird was circling above, about the size of a kestrel or magpie. Had an unusual flight pattern - would fly, then tuck its wings in for a couple of seconds before starting again. I know pigeons do this, but it was a much more athletic shape and definitely not a pigeon.

The cry was an "ee oh" or "keey yoh". almost like a child - not a shrill call like one of the our many buzzards. Really loud and clear. .


I've been through the calls of various raptors, corvids etc but nothing that sounded like his little chap, or had such an unusual, "bouncy" flight pattern.

Any ideas?

[Castrol for a knave]

The woodpecker is very similar.

We are next to some woods, and very rural. We get plenty of common woodpeckers, so having green woodpeckers would stand to reason.

The call was a different, but the flight pattern very much the same.

Thanks all.

[Castrol for a knave]

Didn't seem like a lapwing - used to their call.

It was the call - I thought a child was calling me it was that loud and clear. Then I realised 1) I don't have children and 2) I'm at the bottom of my garden in the arse end of nowhere.


I will go with Green Woodpecker, and call him Bernard.

Thanks all.