What is the ungodly screech I just heard?

[ukvisitor]

I am currently visiting the UK and, due to the heat, I have left the window open overnight.

Five or six times now I have heard this horrible sound, an inhuman screech of sorts, at irregular intervals. It sounds pretty much the same each time. I'm not local to the UK and I'm unfamiliar with the wildlife, and I was just wondering if anyone might have an idea what could make that sort of sound? The best way I can describe it is like the screech of some large bird, but pitched down and clearly coming from ground level. I'm in the suburbs of a south coast city, so the only large birds around are seagulls and I'm very familiar with the sound of those!

I'm not scared- unless it's some primeval flying raptor it's unlikely to attack me on the third floor- I'm mostly just confused! I've truly never heard anything like it.

It’s a fox. We hear it a lot too!

Probably a fox, they make some truly unholy noises, especially when they're on the pull.

here is a YouTube video of a screaming fox for anyone who has never had the misfortune of being woken by one at 2am outside your windows

Yes I agree, a fox, they scream terribly around here!

Foxes. Scary isn't it

Yes foxes. They may be shagging. There's way more foxes in suburban areas than in the countryside now as it's easier for them to find food.

Def fox. Saw 2 on my way home from work just now (country lane!)

Especially when my idiot neighbour puts it out on the path for them.

I remember when I was a university student in the heart of Birmingham being surprised to see foxes in the back garden of my rental house. And that was in the 1990s.

Yep, as previous posters have said it's most likely foxes 🦊. The noise they make is pretty alarming, especially if you don't know what is making it, but it's all completely normal, they are just noisy buggers.

This is so weird! I've just heard this really weird noise too!!
But it was nothing like in the video!!

Haven't read the full thread.

Ignore anyone telling you it's foxes.
It isn't.

Its the creatures known as Mothman.

....

Some say they're harbingers of doom, but in the UK, they bring pots of Tetleys Tea and packs of digestives.

....

Or its foxes.

It is a primeval flying raptor, probably perched on the eaves. Don’t worry as their wingspan is far too large for most bedroom windows. Be prepared for a long wait (weeks) once you have reported it to the council.

Thanks everyone, I've searched up a couple of videos after everyone said a fox and I think that must be the culprit - jeez, I'd seen pictures of foxes before but I never could have imagined such an awful sound from such a sweet face!

I'll still keep an eye out for the primeval flying raptors and mothmen, though, just to be safe 😂

Yeah, I'm going with mothman!

Or a fox on heat

I first heard foxes when I was a student in Birmingham too. I had a bed sit in one of the big houses in Edgbaston, they had large gardens which were mostly not neatly kept. This was in the early 80s.

Muntjacs can make a crazy amount of noise as well.

Where we used to live, at the bottom of the garden was a bit of woody wasteland and then a car park. Mum was convinced a woman was being murdered every night!

I live in the grounds of a hospital in London and hear one most nights. One followed me when I was on an early shift and then trotted into a cafe which was just opened. The guy in the cafe grinned at me and the fox suddenly decided he shouldn't be there!

@quockerwodger

Some say they're harbingers of doom, but in the UK, they bring pots of Tetleys Tea and packs of digestives.

That's very British!

It sure is.
Hes a nice chap really. Sensitive eyes though, so only comes out at night and likes shadowy places and fog.

Still, he's happy to share his brew if you find him.

Btw - the screech, that's when he drops hot water on his excessively large todger.. (I will not be explaining how I know it's girth, it was the 80s, i wanted cash.. just leave it there..)

One of the neighbours has a pet ferret in the garden?

One of my neighbours kept ferrets , the sound they made was almost supernatural.