Sedge Warbler v Reed Warbler (1 Viewer)

I am having real trouble with these two birds, and wondering if anyone is able to suggest some pointers.

I was at the Barnes WWT centre on Friday morning and I could hear the song coming from the reeds in a number of places. Much watching of the reeds and the odd glimpse of the bird didn't help with a physical ID, but I cannot tell the difference between the songs (still a novice!), although having just listened to the recordings of the two birds on the RSPB site I think I'm verging towards the reed warbler (if anyone is interested and knows the WWT Centre at Barnes, it was the first set of reeds you reach by the pond area just by the domestic ducks).

The same thing happened on Saturday down on the Sussex coast by Littlehampton, when I heard a bird singing in the reeds (same sort of song), but only got a very quick glimpse of the bird as it flew off.

All very frustrating!!

It's all about tempo and variation I would say. Reed Warbler has a regular plodding, steady rather plodding tempo whereas Sedge Warbler is as frenetic as any British bird. They also include a lot of mimicry, which Reed Warbler does a bit but not nearly so much.

Here's a Reed Warbler - notice that it keeps at the same regular pace throughout:
http://www.tarsiger.com/mp3/jawetus/FISFN0800131.mp3
Here's a Sedge Warbler - notice that it changes tempo a lot, sometimes slow then frenetically fast.
http://sounds.bl.uk/View.aspx?item=022M-W1CDR0001431-2200V0.xml

Some nice footage of a Reed singing here...

http://www.birdforum.tv/action/viewvideo/1474/European_Reed_Warbler/?vpkey=ae73d949bc

And Sedge..

http://www.birdforum.tv/action/viewvideo/1475/Sedge_Warbler/?vpkey=ae73d949bc

I always think the behaviour is of the Sedge reflects its song - its a crazy little warbler at this time of year! I've seen them both in good numbers at Barnes.

Thanks for the replies - useful links. In hindsight, I think they were reed warblers but the memory is a little hazy. The best thing for me to do is get back out there and listen to them more and also ID them visually.

Thanks again.

I once remember Bill Oddie talking about separating the songs of Sedge and Reed Warbler. His simple explanation helped me......the faster song of the Sedge=Spirited, and the slower song of the Reed=Relaxed.