• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Marsh Warbler Gosport Hampshire? (1 Viewer)

West End Birder

West End Birder

Well-known member
Bit of a debate going on, the video posted sounds like a Reed Warbler to me but as you know I am hopeless. Having said that the picture here http://www.goingbirding.co.uk/hants/show_photo.asp?photo_id=3890 does seem to show a longer primary projection perhaps (and the rump colour)?

I am not bothered what it is, but I am interested to see what the experts on here think and why, having just read the article in this month's Birdwatch*.

Thanks

Rob S

*P55 has a very nice review of my book by the way!
 
BD344 said:
Why is it not a Reed Warbler with that song?
Click to expand...

At the begining of the video, the song contains a lot of imitations, which is usually a characteristic of Marsh warbler.
However, I agree with you: for me this is a Reed warbler.

Although it contains a lot of imitations, the delivery is too slow and not 'random' enough IMO for Marsh. The song also includes typical Reed stanza.

And visually, be it on the picture or on the video, I see nothing really suggestive of Marsh warbler.

I have a singing Reed warbler in my local patch that sounds quite similar to the subject bird (but with a little less imitations), it responded very well to Reed warbler's song used in playback and once on sight, looked like a typical Reed . A few days ago, a migrating Marsh was singing in a nearby bush: the difference in rythm and tempo was readily audible.
 
BD344 said:
Apparently Birdguides have confirmed it is a Marsh Warbler. Video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obi3HhJe2AM&feature=youtu.be

Why is it not a Reed Warbler with that song?
Click to expand...

Hiya,

Not sure where you got the information that BirdGuides had confirmed this as a Marsh Warbler so just to set the record straight, we originally ran with this as a Marsh as reported on local websites and to us by observers on site. As soon as doubts started to occur and images were posted in our Iris galleries (seemingly depicting a Reed Warbler), we downgraded the bird to a possible. Finally, on hearing the song in videos posted on YouTube, we have now corrected the reports to Reed Warbler - which the bird is.

Cheers,
Josh
 
I had a similar bird on Seaford Head, E. Sussex today. Heard a Reed to start of with, then several other notes depicting Marsh Warbler, and then it went a bit mixed. Thankfully, I have heard many Reed Warblers doing this and so was no real problem. Didn't see the bird, but no need to.

I feel there should always be a sense of caution when confirming such species on the south coast before news being put out. Basically if you can here 20 different species coming out of the same bush.....happy days.

All the best
 
BD344 said:
The debate is still going on, we are on 'dark alulas' now. Still sounds like a Reed to me. Can't someone trap it?!
Click to expand...

Why trap it?

A procedure which may cause the bird distress shouldn't, in my view, be used solely to add ticks to lists. At worst, it may even die as a result.
The songs of these two species are relatively easy to separate. Thus far, the only recording of the song of this bird seems to have been firmly placed in the reed warbler camp. There are reports of the song mimicking all sorts of other species (and a car alarm) - it is to be hoped that those who've heard these apparent marsh warbler sounds will be able to record them.


Peter
 
Matt Eade said:
2009 - Otmoor Marsh Warbler
Click to expand...

I spent ten hrs yesterday listening to a marsh wrb at Sammy's Point, Easington. I have singing reed wrbs on my local patch that I hear on a daily basis. That video is a reed wrb singing. Can discuss the appearance till the cows come home but doesn't alter the song
 
Warning! This thread is more than 11 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.

Similar threads

N
Marsh or Reed Warbler - Taken 9 October, Boca do Rio, Portugal
Replies
11
Views
991
kuzeycem
kuzeycem
J
Reed or Marsh Warbler (pictures and recordings)
Replies
10
Views
1K
julienl
J
NAB
Spring Migration, Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada, May 2022 (14/05/2022 – 22/05/2022.
Replies
6
Views
2K
wolfbirder
wolfbirder
West End Birder
Hampshire Warbler
Replies
7
Views
1K
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
A
New guy, new Swaros: Comments on CL Pocket, CL B Companion, and EL 8x32 Fieldpro
2
Replies
29
Views
7K
tenex
tenex

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Back
Top