Late last night a blood-curdling screech ripping through the dark outside couldn't fail to grab my attention.
At first I thought it was a cat fight, but when the loud, eerie shriek repeated, I realised it was not a cat, but some other creature. Unfortunately I've heard enough cat fights, thanks to bruiser Raymi, to recognise the awful racket they produce.
It wasn't a fox. Again, I've heard plenty of fox serenades in my life. Although Tim did see his first ever fox earlier in the evening! There are plenty around; I've even seen one walk casually down the road in broad daylight.
There are supposed to be raccoons here too, but I've not seen them and I don't know what noise they make. And I didn't think it could have been a wild boar. At least, I sincerely hoped it wasn't!
So what on earth was it?
I went out in the garden to see if I could see anything. My dressing gown and slippers weren't the ideal attire for nature-spotting at 11.30pm in temperatures of 4 degrees C.
It screamed again. Now I was able to pinpoint the location: high up in our tall beech tree. It must be a bird.
What birds make such a noise at night? Owls!
But it wasn't a "twit-twoo" sound. Barn owl? They are also known as Screech Owls, and for good reason. But again, this wasn't a Barn Owl sound - it was too loud and deep, and a different format altogether.
It sounded like a steroid-enhanced Barn Owl trying to make a noise like an Long Eared Owl.
But it definitely was not a Barn Owl.
Perhaps it was a banshee?
I hope I hear it again tonight.