UKH

Please can someone help me with my random description?! 
 

I went for a walk this evening up Harter Fell from Haweswater. On my way down, on Gatesgarth at approx 8pm I heard a noise similar to the sound of small rocks moving under foot… that’s not what it was! 🙈 It was like a shikka, shikka noise. 
 

I realised it was a small bird as it flew up making the same sound. I only managed a quick glance but it was small, brown but with a very distinct white fan tail with a brown trim.

I do apologise for the vagueness, but Google’s not bring anything up and I’m really keen to find out what it was! 
 

thanks

Wheatear?

sounds like a stonechat, like pebbles clacking together. Usually lurking in the bracken.

Thanks! It matches my description, including the tail. But the song was very different. Maybe a variation? You’ve helped me narrow down my search! Thank you

I’ve just listened to the sound of one and it’s too song like.

 The birds I heard want singing but clicking or chittering in some way, but was quite deep. 

Only one answer, get a bird book and some bins and go back and see if you can see it again. A lifetime of birding pleasure awaits you! 

More research has told me that it was likely to have been an alarmed call, as it was on the path in front of me.

I think it is most likely to have been a wheatear due to the distinct tail. Although I’m still not 100% sure about the call.

I have thought about this! I’ve dug my bird book out as soon as I got home! 😀

I think a wheatear sounds like a stonechat.

Stonechat 'tsak tsak'. Wheatear 'chack chack'.

The Merlin app might help you in future - Shazam for birdsong, or so I gather.

My thoughts too.  Wheatears have a very distinctive tail with the brown trim and a brown stripe up the middle.

There is a useful video on the British Trust for Ornithology website covering the "chats", Stonechat, Whinchat and Wheatear.

If you just want to watch the Wheatear parts, the identification bit begins at 02.23, the call briefly at 03.55, and the song at 04.46.

https://www.bto.org/develop-your-skills/bird-identification/videos/know-you...

There are lots of Wheatears about on the fells now. Their white rump and tails are very noticeable when they fly away.

And are allegedly what they are named for: "white arse".

Very good for letting you look up a species and listen to a variety of songs and calls too.

Speaking of which..  following up on Cog's suggestion that it was a wheatear..  Whoopdeedoo - is this something like the sound you're describing?

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/305134

Sounds like a wren to me. They fit the description of small, brown, fan tail, and often give you a rattly scolding from close quarters.

Have a look at

https://xeno-canto.org

recordings of over 10,000 species.

This was my first sighting identified by Merlin, said to be a Northern Wheat Ear

On Hadrian's wall.

But which side? If on the southern side it would be a Southern Whitearse (airspeed unknown)

Thanks everyone! I’ve had a look at the suggested links and it was a Northern Wheatear. Definitely not a wren.

Thanks again!

And most likely a female wheatear (brown = female, blue slate grey = male).  

Merlin is OK for bird song. Gets the odd thing wrong, but it’s OK and good fun.