Didn't manage to catch a photo of this one, but heard and spotted it. This was at Mt Glorious in SEQ.
The call sounded rather like some kind electronic, computer generated squelchy kind of noise, and it went a little something like this.
"Squick (pause) zwick zwick zwick" last three notes in rapid succession. This was repeated several times, and I heard a partner responding to the one I saw's call.
Looked like a medium-large sized bird, fairly thinnish.
Any ideas?
Eastern Whipbird?
You can listen to the call of an Eastern whipbird here:
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Psophodes-olivaceus
Pretty distinctive and no wonder you didn't get a photograph if it was that bird. They are difficult to spot let alone photograph.
Samford Valley Qld.
I don't think it was a whipbird - I know they have a variety of whip cracking talents, but this seemed like one bird was doing the same call, and another was answering it from further away with the same call. It was also a lot quicker than the Whipbird.
But I could be wrong.
Also Reflex - I saw about probably 5 or 6 whipbirds in several small groups while I was walking around yesterday, foraging on the ground. This one was quite high up in a tree. They were quick to play hide and seek though.
Satin Bowerbirds make some very strange sounds.
My thoughts exacty Tim
And I have heard the Satin Bowerbirds make that electronic sound you were saying.
Plus they can tend to hide high up in the trees.
Satin Bowerbird is my guess too!
Devster
I am inclined to agree with the Satin bowerbird suggesters. There were a lot of pairs of them hanging around/flirting with each other, so it makes sense.
Thanks!
Is a Spangled drongo a possibility? They also sound a bit metallic to my ear, and somewhat like you describe.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane