What was that?

G'day Odog

First time I had a possum scream outside my tent many years ago I nearly died of fright. So maybe a possum. I don't know the area where you were but I'm sure others much wiser than I will also comment.

Cheers

hi odog
more than likely it was a curlew
cheers

Powerful Owl???

One of these scared the hell out of my dad when he was camped at Euroka clearing, in the Blue Mountains, before WW2. Call of a Curlew is very eerie, but not what I'd call a scream.

Bob

I had a house on Magnetic Island for a few years , and I had 17 Bush Stone Curlews in my yard. I got to know the individuals after a while.

If you think one is bad imagine 17 starting up about 3 metres from your bed at 2am.

They were also the source of much pleasure to me due to their quaint habits of sidling up when you were eating outside and standing perfectly still in a circle about a metre from you, and thinking you couldn't see them.

They also would sit in the dirt and you would almost stand on them before they would move, and then they would hiss at you threateningly, as if the spindly legged bird could hurt you.
They also hung around the Fish and Chip shop standing in among the tables patiently waiting for a chip, and then running like mad with several in pursuit trying to grab the chip.
Regards Philip A

Drop Bear out of it's tree. lol

A barking owl (also known as screaming woman owl) will startle most, but the call is short, and rhythmic in intervals between calls.

Sounds like a Curlew. One of the most eerie noises of the outback night.

Curlew...sheesh!

It was more than likely the W.A pigmy yowie.

There's a resident stone curlew at the Ivanhoe C/P in Kununurra. Very early riser and it certainly makes a huge noise as if it's being attacked by something horrid.
Heard them on the Fitzroy as well but a long way off.
AlanH.

Rufus night herons make a racket when they wake up too, just around dusk.

Sounds like a fox to me.

Thanks for all the info, had an idea mother hen would have a good idea, I'm not totally convinced it was a curlew, not with out hearing the owl anyway... I'll see what I can search out.. Thanks again everyone. Cheers Odog

Hi

Possibly a barn owl given you heard the "noise disappear in the distance". Don't think bush-stone curlews are found that often down that way and area is heavily baited for foxes. Did a fauna survey down there a few years ago (camped at Quoin Head as welll)..caught/spotted chuditch, dibblers, carpet pythons, malleefowl and heaps of other stuff. Great spot.

Cheers
Greg