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Disneynut1973 · Monday 17th May 2010, 16:47

May be asking for a miracle here but I saw this bird at Yeadon Tarn on Saturday, well heard it first singing beautifully. Unfortunately it was a little too far away for a decent shot and this was the best I got. It appears to have a white chest?

WACCOE · Monday 17th May 2010, 16:49

Looks like a Warbler to me proberly a Willow

Matt Prince · Monday 17th May 2010, 16:52

Looks like a sedge warbler.. Did it have a strong supercilium?

norwegianbirder · Monday 17th May 2010, 16:56

Looks like a trush nightingale.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3FjjRhs3LM

KenM · Monday 17th May 2010, 16:57

I think we need more of a field description.....if that's possible?

Cheshire Birder · Monday 17th May 2010, 17:36

My guess would be sedge warbler but not easy to be certain. What did the song sound like?

CB

gropperwinch · Monday 17th May 2010, 17:48

I'd go with Cheshire Birder and Matt Prince-looks a lot like a Sedge to my eyes.

rokermartin · Monday 17th May 2010, 17:50

Sedge Warbler

gambirder · Monday 17th May 2010, 18:00

Was it singing Marchin On Together??

MOT

Disneynut1973 · Monday 17th May 2010, 18:02

Thanks for all the replies.

After looking up what supercilium

meant I have to say I couldn't see it clearly enough, I didn't have my bins with me either and I couldn't get any closer without getting ankle deep in the mud. I've listened to the song of the Sedge and it could be though it seemed a little less harsh than that.

I did have a brief moment of thinking it was a nightingale as it seemed bigger than a Warbler, I was a good way off and it didn't look very small!

That probably doesn't help much though not a lot to go on i'm afraid. It may fall into birds I can't id category?

Disneynut1973 · Monday 17th May 2010, 18:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by gambirder

Was it singing Marchin On Together??

MOT

It should have been

michael23 · Monday 17th May 2010, 18:17

my first thought was sedge warbler too

Matt Prince · Monday 17th May 2010, 18:19

Nightingales don't tend to perch up like that, whereas sedge warblers often climb to the top of the (usually waterside) bush or reedbed they are in.

Reed warblers are very similar in shape but planer and without such a stonking supercilium - sorry eyebrow :) They sound like a broken record next to a sedgy - which in turn sounds like a *rap singer next to the operatic aria of a nightingale.

Gaz Shilton · Monday 17th May 2010, 18:39

I would say Sedge Warbler.

nickderry · Monday 17th May 2010, 19:04

shape and tertial pattern say sedge to me

Jane Turner · Monday 17th May 2010, 19:09

The wings seem too short for a Sedge Warbler

nickderry · Monday 17th May 2010, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jane Turner

The wings seem too short for a Sedge Warbler

they look ok to me, not easy to see that though with the foreshortening and branches all around

http://www.stephenburch.com/oxonpics...May%2009sm.jpg

norwegianbirder · Monday 17th May 2010, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Prince

Nightingales don't tend to perch up like that, whereas sedge warblers often climb to the top of the (usually waterside) bush or reedbed they are in.

A lot of birds do. Just today i was photographing severall nightingales from just a couple of feet away, in the top of a similar bush, singing. Most nightingales do sing from a low and hidden posision, but not all. To sing from this kind og posture is not uncommon at all. Its the perfect time of the year for thees buggers aswell

I just briefly checked out the photos earlier, but after studying it closer now it does seems (on my screen) like it's not pale brownish afterall. It looks it's contrasted webs on tertials and flightfeathers, and therefore excluding both types of nightingale.

Need info to say more.

Jane Turner · Monday 17th May 2010, 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickderry

they look ok to me, not easy to see that though with the foreshortening and branches all around

http://www.stephenburch.com/oxonpics...May%2009sm.jpg

Look in relation to the tail

deborah4 · Monday 17th May 2010, 21:06

I've lightened pic a bit. Does look Sedgish on superficial plumage impression. Agree with Jane about wing length which makes me wonder if it's perhaps a very worn Reed Warbler with 'shortened'/missing pp (presumably Sedge would be in fresh plumage). Not typical singing perch though for a Reed is it?! - Acro surely though.

nickderry · Monday 17th May 2010, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jane Turner

Look in relation to the tail

compared to the tail they look short true, but perhaps it's better to judge PP in relation to the tertials

. From what I can see of the tertials, the PP looks ok. Though I've had some wine!

I also really like the shape of the bird - I've sketched sedge in this squat position, it's a classic. Also - what else has such obviously pale-fringed tertials?? I think the OP should go back to the bush though, it should surely be there again!

TomSmith · Monday 17th May 2010, 21:10

The silhouette and posture look like a Sedge Warbler to me as well. (I think the wings are a bit spread apart in the second photo making them look shorter). Really though this is a top candidate for identifying as One That Got Away.

bongofury · Monday 17th May 2010, 21:43

Was it singing at all? Try listening to a Sedge Warblers song from a CD or online - its quite an unforgettable song.

phil baber · Tuesday 18th May 2010, 03:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jane Turner

The wings seem too short for a Sedge Warbler

Pretty easy ID as a Sedge Warbler. Deborah's re-working making it even clearer. Can't see a problem here at all?

Disneynut1973 · Tuesday 18th May 2010, 09:10

I'm glad i've prompted such a discussion

I've had a good look at the pics of the Sedge and listened to the song a few more times and would say it sounds more like that then a Reed (or a Nightingale!).

I would very much like to go with Sedge Warbler as it would be a new bird for me, would that be cheating?!

Monday 17th May 2010, 16:47	#1
Disneynut1973 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Leeds, UK Posts: 589	A Very Long Shot!! Leeds, UK May be asking for a miracle here but I saw this bird at Yeadon Tarn on Saturday, well heard it first singing beautifully. Unfortunately it was a little too far away for a decent shot and this was the best I got. It appears to have a white chest? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Pam Pam's Place

Monday 17th May 2010, 16:52	#3
Matt Prince Sharkbait Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Devon Posts: 623	Looks like a sedge warbler.. Did it have a strong supercilium?
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Monday 17th May 2010, 18:02	#10
Disneynut1973 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Leeds, UK Posts: 589	Thanks for all the replies. After looking up what supercilium meant I have to say I couldn't see it clearly enough, I didn't have my bins with me either and I couldn't get any closer without getting ankle deep in the mud. I've listened to the song of the Sedge and it could be though it seemed a little less harsh than that. I did have a brief moment of thinking it was a nightingale as it seemed bigger than a Warbler, I was a good way off and it didn't look very small! That probably doesn't help much though not a lot to go on i'm afraid. It may fall into birds I can't id category? __________________ Pam Pam's Place

Monday 17th May 2010, 18:19	#13
Matt Prince Sharkbait Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Devon Posts: 623	Nightingales don't tend to perch up like that, whereas sedge warblers often climb to the top of the (usually waterside) bush or reedbed they are in. Reed warblers are very similar in shape but planer and without such a stonking supercilium - sorry eyebrow :) They sound like a broken record next to a sedgy - which in turn sounds like a *rap singer next to the operatic aria of a nightingale.
	Click here to Support BirdForum

Monday 17th May 2010, 18:39	#14
Gaz Shilton Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Castleford Posts: 541 My location	I would say Sedge Warbler. __________________ When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half. Equipment: Canon 1D MkIII, 300mm f/2.8, Canon Powershot SX210 IS

Monday 17th May 2010, 16:49	#2
WACCOE Marching on Together Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pontefract Posts: 782	Looks like a Warbler to me proberly a Willow

Monday 17th May 2010, 16:56	#4
norwegianbirder Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Norway Posts: 5	Looks like a trush nightingale. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3FjjRhs3LM

Monday 17th May 2010, 16:57	#5
KenM Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: London Posts: 4,361	I think we need more of a field description.....if that's possible?

Monday 17th May 2010, 17:36	#6
Cheshire Birder Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cheshire Posts: 8,893	My guess would be sedge warbler but not easy to be certain. What did the song sound like? CB

Monday 17th May 2010, 17:48	#7
gropperwinch Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: East Sussex Posts: 913	I'd go with Cheshire Birder and Matt Prince-looks a lot like a Sedge to my eyes.

Monday 17th May 2010, 17:50	#8
rokermartin Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: SUNDERLAND Posts: 4,424	Sedge Warbler

Monday 17th May 2010, 18:00	#9
gambirder Kev Roy Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Luton Posts: 660 My location	Was it singing Marchin On Together?? MOT

Monday 17th May 2010, 18:17	#12
michael23 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: derbyshire Posts: 994	my first thought was sedge warbler too

Monday 17th May 2010, 19:04	#15
nickderry C'est pas ma faute, je suis anglais. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Besançon, France Posts: 12,732 My location	shape and tertial pattern say sedge to me __________________ NEW Website!!! Nick Derry Wildlife Artist on FACEBOOK

Monday 17th May 2010, 19:09	#16
Jane Turner Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hoylake, Merseyside Posts: 19,820 My location	The wings seem too short for a Sedge Warbler __________________ If I'm not online I'm probably here! Last Cheshire Lesser Scaup (301) last Red Rocks Grey Partridge (250), last Garden Avocet (202), last Self-found Great White Egret (293)
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Monday 17th May 2010, 21:06	#20
deborah4 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sussex Posts: 6,593	I've lightened pic a bit. Does look Sedgish on superficial plumage impression. Agree with Jane about wing length which makes me wonder if it's perhaps a very worn Reed Warbler with 'shortened'/missing pp (presumably Sedge would be in fresh plumage). Not typical singing perch though for a Reed is it?! - Acro surely though. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by deborah4 : Monday 17th May 2010 at 21:15.
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Monday 17th May 2010, 21:10	#22
TomSmith Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South London, birding desert Posts: 289	The silhouette and posture look like a Sedge Warbler to me as well. (I think the wings are a bit spread apart in the second photo making them look shorter). Really though this is a top candidate for identifying as One That Got Away.

Monday 17th May 2010, 21:43	#23
bongofury Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Hamilton, Scotland Posts: 1,817	Was it singing at all? Try listening to a Sedge Warblers song from a CD or online - its quite an unforgettable song.

Tuesday 18th May 2010, 09:10	#25
Disneynut1973 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Leeds, UK Posts: 589	I'm glad i've prompted such a discussion I've had a good look at the pics of the Sedge and listened to the song a few more times and would say it sounds more like that then a Reed (or a Nightingale!). I would very much like to go with Sedge Warbler as it would be a new bird for me, would that be cheating?! __________________ Pam Pam's Place

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