willow warbler

It seems to have been a good year for Willow Warblers and their sweet song, with its slightly melancholy cascade of notes, has been one of the defining sounds of this summer for me. Ron

Well Peeps, Its an early post and run from me today. We are off to Brighton, and have to catch the train at 8. We are babysitting little Maggie (2) for the day, as her parents are both working. As some of you may know, Hazel usually babysits Maggie on a Monday and Tuesday. Well that is now...

...different species, same theme ;)

One of many Willow Warblers singing at Strumpshaw Fen on Sunday. A lot more cooperative than the Garden Warblers! Ron

Up a rather steep hillside, we found a few willow warblers calling from the top of trees or gorse-bushes. There were also pied flycatchers and redstarts in the vicinity.

A Willow Warbler on a lovely day at Strumpshaw Fen. Ron

Had a walk over Lakenheath Warren yesterday, on what was a mostly overcast day. The sun came out briefly, the next minute it p****d down, I got caught in two showers. There were loads of these singing away all over the place.

At Strumpshaw on Saturday I finally found a cooperative Willow Warbler, which continued to sing whilst allowing me to approach quite close beneath the tree. It even moved into the open for me. I wish they were all like that. Ron

Spent a few hours trying to capture these little guys as they sung their hearts out in Bransdale, N Yorks at 6:45am! Best I got was this chap

This one's for Chris(Kten) (the specialist at finding birds with their eye's on flies ;)). This Willow Warbler (and me, for that matter) were intermittently surrounded by swarms of moskitoes (I think they are?) and would latch on to watching one only for another to catch its attention. Here it...

Back home from my time away at Easter and I got out for a great morning's birding. The place was awash with dancing Whitethroats and numerous other singing Warblers (which I'm useless at ID-ing). This very confiding Willow Warbler allowed me to approach and stand directly under the tree, taking...

There were dozens of these at Strumpshaw last week but they were all perched at the tops of trees, surrounded by branches. Ron

Willow Warbler

Very interested in the little black feathers above the beak.