Melodious Warbler......
Following hard on the heels of my home counties first Great Reed Warbler, which i couldn't get to on the day, has been another 1st - a Melodious Warbler:eek!: Altho not classed as rare, more scarce, most records (as UK birders will know) are usually juvenile Autumn birds devoid of colouring and silent. A singing Spring male is another thing altogether and today, nearly a week after it set up territory some 40 miles away, i managed to scrounge a lift to get some record shots. My first acquaintance with the species was with a few in the Camargue in Southern France more years ago than i care to remember! Since then many more in Spain, Portugal and more recently Morocco.
Todays bird was a stellar performer and despite a moderate, changeable, breeze and generally dull lighting conditions did us proud. It sung for almost all of the hour or so that we were there and from a large, open, Sallow bush which allowed excellent views and prolonged photo opportunities.
There are obviously far better images available - my set up is purely for record purposes and is better suited to more open, static species but it's better than nothing. A couple of other birders had 'bridge' cameras of up to 50x optical zoom and a quick chat revealed that these can be had for an average of £250-£300 as newer models are released. One of these will be my next purchase but the high magnification values of the phone/scope combo will remain an alternative option depending on the situation.
I must remember to take my bi-focal spectacles with me. I need to focus the scope on the bird in question and then need to use my close up vision to check the iphone, it's all a bit complicated and time-confusing but patience has to be exercised as there is nothing good about growing older imho.
As stated the flat lighting meant the bird was washed out - in real life it is a chocolate-brown on top and pale lemon-yellow underneath. The song is distinct but as we agreed on site had we been walking past and suddenly made aware our initial thoughts would be Marsh Warbler until views had been obtained. As luck would have it, the original finder was there and concurred that he had indeed thought the same and this bloke used to be on the BBRC (British Birds Rarities Committee):eek!:
Laurie:t: