DASG Blog

Cainnt nan Eun: Pàirt 2

We are back, finally with part two of "Cainnt nan Eun" and we shall have a look at the calls of other birds in this blog. I have found many of them in the book "Aithris is Oideas" and I can thoroughly reccommend that you read it!

The Adharcan ["Peewit," or "Lapwing"] has the same call as the Brù-dhearg ["Robin"]:
“Till, till, till, till,
Na creach mo nead, na creach mo nead;
Imeachd gun teachd dhut,
Imeachd gun teachd dhut,
A Bhraidein, a bhraidein!”
["Return, return, return, return,
Don't plunder my nest, don't plunder my nest;
Depart without coming,
Depart withing coming
Thief, thief!"]
(You can find the picture for the bird on the RSPB's website here.)

The Lon-dubh ["Blackbird"] isn't so fond of other birds as it seems:
"Bun a' ghuib, oir a' ghuib, bàrr a' ghuib,
Eun dubh air a nead," Sheinn an lon-dubh.
"Eun dubh hó ró,
Gràin air na feannagan."
["Base of the gob, edge of the gob, top of the gob,
Black bird of the nest," Sang the blackbird.
"Black bird hó ró,
Hatred for the crows."]

The feannag is a bit bloody, especially when they are talking to a crab:
1) “Thig a-mach” ars an fheannag ris a’ phortan
“Gun cumainn còt’, gun cumainn còt'.’”
“Gu dè an còt’, gu dè an còt’?” ars a’ phortan.
“Còt’ dearg, còta dearg,” ars an fheannag.”
["Come out" said the crow to the crab
"I shall shape you a coat, I'd shape you a coat."
"What coat, what coat?" said the crab.
"A red coat, red coat," said the crow."]

2) “Gòmhag, gòmhag,” ars an Fheannag
“’S e mo mhac an garrach gorm.”
["Gòmhag, gòmhag," said the crow
"My son's the blue wretch."]
(You can hear an imitation of the bird's voice on the website "Cultural Equity" here.)

3) "Sùgh cridhe, sùgh colainn,
Robachan Dubh," ars an fheannag;
"Sùgh cridhe, sùgh colainn,
Dhòmhnaill, gur bòidheach thu," ars an fheannag.
["Juice of the heart, juice of the body,
Black Little-scruffy," said the crow;
"Juice of the heart, juice of the body,
Donald, you are beautiful," said the crow.]t

4) (Mar a thuirt an Fheannag ri a h-Iseanan)
"Is greannach sibh, is greannach sibh,
'S cha b' annasach, Cha b' annasach."
[(As the crow said to her chicks)
"You are crabbit, you are crabbit,
And that's not novel, That's not novel."]

The Fitheach ["Raven"] is just as bloody as the crow on the beach:
“Cròg cròg cròg,
’S e mo mhac a’ spìonadh an fhèoil.”
["Croak, croak, croak,
It is my son that is tearing the flesh."

There is a conversation between the raven and the crow praising their broods (just as every proud parent!):
"Gròg, gròg, gròg,
Is e mo mhac a spioladh an fheòil'";
"Gàg, gàg," ars an fheannag,
"Is e mo mhac an garrach gorm."
["Croak, croak, croak,
It's my son who's tearing the flesh";
"Gack, gack," said the crow,
"My son is the blue wretch."]

The Calman ["Pigeon"] is somewhat suspicious in his nature and his talk, this is clear in his call:
“Chan ann de m' chuideachd thu.”
“Gurr-ù, gurr-ù, gurr-ù,
Chan ann de m’ chuideachd thu (X2)
Tha mo chùl riut (X2)
Chan ann de m’ chuideachd thu (X2)
Chan itheadh tu sud gun mo chuid a thoirt dhòmhsa,
Nam b’ ann de m’ chuideachd thu."
["You're not of my company."
Gurr-ù, gurr-ù, gurr-ù,
You're not of my company (X2)
My back is to you (X2)
You're not of my company (X2)
You wouldn't eat that with my giving to me my own,
If you were of my company."]

The Cearc-fhraoich ["Red Grouse Hen"] is just as talkative as other birds and is very sharp-eyed about her nest:

1) “Laighibh, laighibh, laighibh,
Caomh'n thu, caomh'n thu bàrr an fhraoich
Cha’n fhaigh sibh gu latha ach na fhuair sibh!
Cha’n fhaigh sibh gu latha ach na fhuair sibh!
Caomhn thu, caomhn thu bàrr an fhraoich
Laighibh, laighibh, laighibh.”
["Lay, lay, lay,
Save, save the tops of the heather
You'll not get today but what you got (already)!
You'll not get today but what you got (already)!
Save, save the tops of the heather
Lay, lay, lay."]
(You can hear an imitation of the voice of the bird on the "Cultural Equity" website here.)

The account here taken from the book "Sgeálta Mhuintir Luimhnigh" showing a conversationg between the Coileach-Fraoich ["Male-grouse"] and the Cearc-Fhraoich on the moor:
2) An Coileach Fraoigh: “A Mhraed, A Mhraed, a Mhraed! Tá an fraoch ag goil go h-Albain, Tá an fraoch ag goil go h-Albain.”
An chearc fhraoigh: “Caomhain e, caomhain e, caomhain. Buin sop, buin sop, buin sop.”
Coileach Fraoigh: “Goidé gheanfa tú leis? Goidé a dheanfa tú leis?”
Cearc-Fhraoigh: “Go ndeanfa me nead, Go ndeanfa me nead.”
Coileach Fraoigh: “Buachaill bocht, buachaill bocht, Ó thor go tor, ó thor go tor.”
Cearc-Fhraoigh: “Aig iarraidh mo neid! Aig iarraidh mo neid! Aig iarraidh mo neid!”
Coileach Fraoigh: “Nar theana se a leas, nar theana se a leas.”
[Male grouse: "Mairéad, Mairéad, Mairéad! The heather is going to Scotland, The heather is going to Scotland, The Heather is going to Scotland."
Female grouse: "Preserve it, preserve it, preserve it. Pull a straw, pull a straw, pull a straw!"
Male: "What will you do with it? What will you do with it?"
Female: "For me to make a nest! For me to make a nest! For me to make a nest!"
Male: "Poor fellow, poor fellow, From bush to bush, from to bush."
Female: "Seeking my nest! Seeking my nest! Seeking my nest!"
Male: "May it do him no good! May it do him no good!"]

There is another account that the heath-cock says when he, or the grouse, is in trouble:
3) “A Mhraed, gabh i bhfolach, gabh i bhfolacht!
["Mairéad, hide yourself, hide yourself!"]
(Lorgar dealbh dheth air làrach-lìn an "RSPB" an seo.)

On top of what we have written already in our blogs already about the Wren, the wren has a call too:
“Thig, thig, thig a dhiol-déirce,
Thig, thig, thig, a ghille-frìde
Ach mise leam fhìn,
Ach mise leam fhìn,
Gillean-frìde, gillean-frìde.”
["Come, come, come little beggar,
Come, come, come, little mite
But I'm all alone,
But I'm all alone,
Mite, mite."]
(You can find a picture of it on the RSPB's website here.)

Despite how cute the tunnag ["Duck"] she is much more bloody than we were expecting:
“Fà-ug, fà-ug, fà-ug
Fà-ug a phartain ghlais
Mura tàrr thu às,
Brisidh mi do chas.
Fà-ug, fà-ug, fà-ug.”
["Leave, leave, leave
Leave green crab
If you don't get away
I shall break your leg,
Leave, leave, leave."]
(You can find a picture of the bird on the RSPB's website here.)

The Traon (or "an Garra-gart," "Ràc an Fheòir," or "Trian-ri-Trian") ["Corncrake"] is quite relaxed and content as long as he gets food:
1) "A Dhia nam feart, a Dhia nam feart,
Cuir biadh sa ghart, cuir biadh sa ghart."
["O God of wonders, oh God of wonders,
Put food in the field, put food in the field."]

2) "Gràn air déis, Min air mhéis,
Gràn air déis, Min air mhéis."
["Grain on a corn-head, meal on a platter,
Grain on a corn-head, meal on a dish."]

The Faoileag [seagull] is calm in comparison with other sea-birds:
1) “Guile guile grùthan”
["Guile guile livers"]

2) “Glì-eag, glì-eag” ars an Fhaoileag
“’S e mo mhac an t-aodh-geal thonn.”
["Glì-eag, glì-eag" said the seagull
"My son is the white pastor of the waves."

It can be found in Béaloideas Iml. 1, Uimh. 1 aid, page 27 a small article about “Caint na bhFaoileann” ("Talk of the Seagull") in Irish Gaelic;
3) “Tá gam, tá ga, tá gam.”
“Cad tá, cad tá, cad tá?” Adeir an fhaoileann eile.
“Portán, portán, portán!” adeir an chéad cheann.
“Cinnibh, cinnibh, cinnibh!” adeir an tarna ceann.”
“D’imig, d’imig, d’imig!” adeir an fhaoileann go raibh an breac aici.
“Lá amhghair ort!” adair an ceann eile, “tá an Samhra chùinn.”

There is a conversation between the an Fharspag ["Black-gulled gull,"] discussing the food that cannot be found, with the black-backed gull telling the seagull what can be found:
An Fharspag: "(An) Dubh-bhlian, dubh-bhlian ann."
An Fhaoileag: "'S math ann e, 's math ann e."
[The Black-backed gull: "Utter misery, utter misery."
The Seagull: "It's good that that's there, it's good that it's there."]
(You can hear an imitation of the bird's voice on the "Cultural Equity" website here.)

The Trìlleachan (or "Brìdean," "Gille-Bhrìghde," "Guilpeanach," "Pioghaid-mara") is a talkative according to the amount of calls they have:
1) Eòin bhig, eòin bhig,
Bi glic, bi glic,
Fo dhìon, fo dhìon,
Fo dhìon, fo dhìon.”
(Lorgar dealbh dheth air làrach-lìn an "RSPB" an seo.)

2) “Trìlleachan, trìlleachan
Gob dearg, gob dearg.”
(You can hear an imitation of the bird's voice on the "Cultural Equity" website here.)

3) “Och, is och, is och mo dhunaidh,
Mis an so an cois na tuinne,
Is mi gun bhuille de’n t-snàmh.”
(You can hear an imitation of the bird's voice on "Cultural Equity" an seo.)

There is a story in Applecross, Wester Ross, that there was an alchoholic called "Fiona Fionn", who used to drink heavily because of the mavis commanded her:
4) "Fiona Fionn, Fiona Fionn, deòch eil', deòch eil'!"
["Fiona Fionn, Fiona Fionn, another drink, another drink!"]
 
The “Peadar Ruadh” (or "Bugaid," "Buthaid," "Bùigire," "Eun-Breac," "Eun-Dubh a' Sgàdain," "Eun-giùirne," or "Ian Dubh an Sgàdain") ["Puffin"] doesn't have much to say apparently. It is much more likely that he has more names than things to say according to the record I heard:
“Bhù u ù u ùuuuu (x)4
Gog gog gog (x2)”
(You can find a picture of the bird on the RSPB's website here and you can hear an imitation of the bird's voice on the "Cultural Equity" here.)

There is a beautiful verse filled with bird-calls, some of them have been written already in the blog:
"Guile, guile," ars an fhaoileag,
"Is e mo mhac-sa aoigh geal thonn."
"Gà-ug, gà-ug," ars an fheannag,
"Is e mo mhac-sa an garrach gorm."
"Gròg, gròg," ars am fitheach,
"Is e mo mhac-sa a chriomadh an fheòil."
"Guile, guile," ars an fharspag,
"Is e mo mhac-sa a spiolladh an t-siùil."
"Glì-ug, glì-ug," ars an iolaire,
"Is e mo mhac-sa as tighearna oirbh."
["Guile, guile," said the seagull,
"Gaa-oog, gaa-oog," said the crow,
"My son in the blue wretch."
"Croak, croak," said the crow,
"It is my son who is tearing the flesh."
"Guile, guile," said the black-backed gull,
"It is my son who is plucking the eye."
"Glì-ug, glì-ug," said the eagle,
"It is my son who's the king over all of you."]

I hope that you enjoyed the blog! Did you know any call or talk of the birds above? Do you have a call or "voice" that I haven't written already? Let us know on facebook, twitter and our own website!