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Loch Garten wail

Loch Garten wail


Postby AspiringHiker » Tue Jun 08, 2021 10:14 pm

Last week I was camping by Loch Garten in Abernethy Forest and around 7 in the morning heard a most peculiar wail from across the loch. It only happened once and was distinctly like a long loud wail unlike any Scottish bird or animal I head of lasting perhaps 2-4 seconds. It could be "Nessy" style prank, but I once head lion roars camping down south which I though where coming from other campers only to later discover those were actual lions in nearby cat sanctuary.
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Re: Loch Garten wail

Postby CharlesT » Tue Jun 08, 2021 11:16 pm

AspiringHiker wrote:Last week I was camping by Loch Garten in Abernethy Forest and around 7 in the morning heard a most peculiar wail from across the loch. It only happened once and was distinctly like a long loud wail unlike any Scottish bird or animal I head of lasting perhaps 2-4 seconds. It could be "Nessy" style prank, but I once head lion roars camping down south which I though where coming from other campers only to later discover those were actual lions in nearby cat sanctuary.

Could be a vixen, they can produce very eerie howls and shrieks. Dog foxes have a resonating bark that can have a wsil like echo.
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Re: Loch Garten wail

Postby Skyelines » Wed Jun 09, 2021 12:16 am

Are you familiar with the calls of the Red-throated Diver?

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/red-throated-diver/
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Re: Loch Garten wail

Postby AspiringHiker » Wed Jun 09, 2021 10:31 am

Skyelines wrote:Are you familiar with the calls of the Red-throated Diver?

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/red-throated-diver/


That's the one. Thanks. I didn't dream it up.
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Re: Loch Garten wail

Postby Mal Grey » Wed Jun 09, 2021 1:44 pm

AspiringHiker wrote:
Skyelines wrote:Are you familiar with the calls of the Red-throated Diver?

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/red-throated-diver/


That's the one. Thanks. I didn't dream it up.


Their calls, and those of their cousins the Black Throated divers, are utterly magical when heard sat by a perfectly still loch in the middle of nowhere. We were once on Loch Sionasgaig, in stunning conditions, when they started up and it was echoing off the hills. Astonishing sound.
If you don't know what they are, its a little misty and grey, and you're on your own in the middle of nowhere, perhaps substitute the word "magical" for "hair-raising". :lol:
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Re: Loch Garten wail

Postby tweedledog » Wed Jun 09, 2021 3:06 pm

I had a similar experience to Mal Grey on Skye many years ago. A beautiful, low-slung black-throated diver out on the loch uttering that haunting call. Unforgettable.
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Re: Loch Garten wail

Postby Caberfeidh » Sat Jun 12, 2021 10:12 am

Is there anything that makes a noise like a horse? Apart from an actual horse, obviously. The neighing and whinnying thing. I heard it on an open area, by Loch Lyon. Couldn't see a horse anywhere.
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