Migrating Reed warbler

11 Saturday Sep 2021

Tags

Acrocephalus scirpaceus, autumn bird migration, bird migration, birding, birdwatching, British birds, Reed warbler

As is often the case with this little brown bird, I heard it before I saw it, not the song but the short nasal ‘churring’ call these warblers make to keep in touch with each other deep within the reed beds.

210911 reed warbler (1)

Luckily for me, as this particularly Reed warbler foraged its way along the brook, I could follow its movement by the bending and shaking of reed stems, and when it occasionally ventured out to the edge of the reeds, I was able to grab some images.

210911 reed warbler (2)

Small though it is – around 13cm in length, the Reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) migrates from Britain to over-winter in sub-Saharan Africa, so this little bird has quite the journey ahead of it.

210911 reed warbler (3)

Ratty and Reedy

11 Tuesday May 2021

Posted by sconzani in birds, mammal

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

British birds, British mammals, Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, Ratty, Reed warbler, Sully Brook, Water vole

It was all happening in the reeds along Sully Brook at Cosmeston on Sunday afternoon. I spent 20 minutes watching this very cute and confiding Water vole munching on reeds, and all the while the Reed warbler was singing his funky tune.

210511 water vole (2) 210511 reed warbler

Times like these are what keep me sane and bring me happiness and joy. I hope you have a Ratty and Reedy (or their equivalents) in your life.

210511 water vole (3)

245/366 Juvenile Reed warbler

01 Tuesday Sep 2020

Posted by sconzani in birds, nature

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

birding, birdwatching, British birds, Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, juvenile Reed warbler, Reed warbler

One highlight of a bumper birding day at Cosmeston last Friday was seeing rather than just hearing a little family of Reed warblers (they frequently hide away amongst the reeds so only their distinctive call can be heard). I caught glimpses of birds moving in the greenery, then recognised the constant call of a youngster and figured I had a better than usual chance of seeing something, as young birds are often less wary than adults.

200901 reed warbler (1)

So, I waited … and I waited … and after 7-8 minutes, this little cutie popped out, foraged, hopped up and down the reed stems, and poked about in the bushes.

200901 reed warbler (2)

And then, judging by how often it kept closing its eyes, I think it headed back into cover amongst the reeds for a snooze.

200901 reed warbler (3)

154/366 Reed bed magic

02 Tuesday Jun 2020

Posted by sconzani in birds, nature

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

birding, birds in reed beds, birdwatching, British birds, Reed bunting, Reed warbler

I was listening to a Reed warbler singing its magical song yesterday when, surprisingly, it popped up to the top of a stem to bellow even louder. And then another bird appeared in the reeds nearby, and then two more flew in, followed quickly by yet another. As I stayed motionless, this delightful family of two adults and three fledglings flitted around in the reeds, feeding, being fed, and singing.

200602 reed warbler

After watching, spellbound, for about 5 minutes, I was just about to walk on when in flew a female Reed bunting, her beak stuffed full of moth, no doubt a snack for her offspring hidden in a nest somewhere amongst the reeds. What a magical slice of life that reed bed contains!

200602 reed bunting

111/365 Reed warbler

21 Sunday Apr 2019

Posted by sconzani in 365DaysWildin2019, birds, nature

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

#365DaysWild, Acrocephalus scirpaceus, birding, birdwatching, British birds, British warblers, Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, Reed warbler

There are thirteen species of warbler that regularly breed in Britain and I find them some of the trickiest to identify as several are typically LBJs, little brown jobs.

190421 reed warbler (1)

The Reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) is, I think, one of the easier, partly because of its recognisable warble and partly because it lives up to its name by living almost exclusively in reeds.

190421 reed warbler (3)

But it’s an elusive little bird so I’ve never managed to get clear photos of it … until today, when this little beauty was so intent on finding food that I was able to watch it for over ten minutes. Just perfect!

190421 reed warbler (2)

The secretive Reed warbler

21 Thursday Jun 2018

Posted by sconzani in birds, nature, parks, walks

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#30DaysWild, 30 Days Wild, Acrocephalus scirpaceus, birding, birdwatching, British birds, Parc Slip Nature Reserve, Reed warbler

For day 21 of #30DaysWild and as a solstice treat, I went for a visit to the Wildlife Trust’s Parc Slip Nature Reserve. It was a lovely sunny day and I walked far and wide, seeing lots of wildlife and wildflowers, but the highlight came as I was sitting on a park bench in a distant part of the reserve eating my lunch.

180621 Reed warblers (1)

I could hear what I thought were Reed warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), dotting about in the reeds and bushes growing along a nearby stream, and could see the undergrowth moving as they gradually came nearer.

180621 Reed warblers (2)

These are often very shy birds and I’ve never managed very clear photos of them so I waited to see if they would pop up.

180621 Reed warblers (3)

And my patience was eventually rewarded with these fleeting views of two of a family of four Reed warblers – still not great shots but I’m happy with them.

180621 Reed warblers (4)