Hi
There are some birds calling at night from the trees in an old railway cutting at the bottom of my garden. I presume they are young birds as the calls only start at this time of year for a few months. There are 3 or 4 of them in different trees - the call is a bit like a rusty hinge or squeak.
Does anyone have an idea what they may be?
I live in Co Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Hmmm.... Great spotter woodpecker?

Maybe young owls, calling for food?

My first thought was tawny owl chicks calling for food, but I believe they're not very common in Ireland, is that true?

Thanks for the ideas.
It cant be a woodpecker as we dont have them over here.
It might be young owls as although Ive never heard or seen any adults, a few years ago I did find some owl pellets in the garden.
I dont think we get Tawny Owls but there are Barn Owls here.

There are no woodpeckers in Ireland.
There are no Tawny Owls in Ireland.

But there are Long Eared Owls in Ireland and the young do make a noise which sounds like rusty hinges. They use the old nest of other larger birds such as crow, sparrow hawk and so on.

It is unlikely to be Barn Owls as they normally breed in buildings, but do use very large holes in trees sometimes. But you would not have described their sound like squeaking or rusty hinges.

Agree with you Dave, these birds can only be Long-eared Owls! Was listening to some young LEOs calling last year - they're quite distinctive!

Agree also with the above. I think i have even read somewhere before that their call is 'like a squeaking door or hinge'. Also likened to a pig squealing (or water rail!)