nocturnal beeping creature, any idea what it could be?

[jomifl]

At night in southern France I often hear a nocturnal creature that beeps at regular interval producing a clear tone of E5 ie. about 660hz for about 0.25 seconds every 3 seconds. Sometimes I can hear several simultaneously at different locations. It is not any kind of cricket as the note is not at all raspy or buzzy. It appears to be able to move quite quickly almost certainly by flying as if I walk towards the source of the sound it stops and starts again from another location. So far all the beepers have produced pretty much the same note plus or minus a semitone. They only make this noise when it is really dark and warm. Somebody must know what these creatures are, if so please tell me what they are.

[Prudie]

I heard this nightly on holiday in Menorca a couple of years ago and HAD to find out what it was. On return home after a bit of research on the net found it was a Scops Owl. Common in southern Europe. I thought at first it was a lighthouse warning!

[Goodsoulette]

Cicada??? http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=fy12sppepRQ it has a variety of calls mind. Media URL: http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=fy12sppepRQ
Description:

[Goodsoulette]

dunno what happened there :S

[sara3]

not Road Runner then?

[ttfn]

butch's van with the battery draining?

[Prudie]

Scops owl call added (if I've done it right)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km3D2jq1HoQ(Optional) Enter URL

[jomifl]

Thank you Prudie you are spot on and thanks for the youtube recording. Thanks too to all those who gave serious answers. The butchers van was a non starter not because it had a flat battery but because they are more rare than Scops Owls around here.

[Answerprancer]

It's got to be a cicada - there are a few in that region as far as I know.
LOL absolutely LOVING your pitch analysis "660hz".

I stayed with a friend who lives in Alabama USA at a time when there was a lot of cicada activity, the one I heard the most went "whooooshhha-whooooshhha-whooooshhha-whoooosh
hha-whooossssss.....(fizzle)"
it was fascinating, as one stopped, another (often in the distance) would kick in.

So - my guess: cicada.

[wildwood]

Little frogs?

[Prudie]

Sorry guys but my answer is 100% correct - Scops Owl

[boxtops]

It's a lovely noise Prudie, not like a hooty-owl at all.

[Prudie]

It is boxy and playing the link took me right back!

[jomifl]

Hi answerprancer, it really is the Scops Owl. I know what cicadas sound like as we hear them quite often in the summer. Re. the pitch analysis, I play some musical instruments including the flute so I am quite sure of the pitch (E5 660 hz). The only difference between the youtube recording and the mystery animal is that mine sounds like a more pure tone. Thanks for your contribution.

[Answerprancer]

np. I sit corrected! I'm fascinated, I must hear what they sound like - just about to go off and research :-)