Grasshopper Warbler in the UK (1 Viewer)

[SarahDal]

A bit of a reverse query.. are there any insects who sound like the Grasshopper Warbler? If I hear something and think "ah, a Grasshopper warbler!" how likely is it to actually be a grasshopper or similar?

 

[Jacana]

listen to them here: http://www.xeno-canto.org/browse.php?query=grasshopper+warbler

unlikely to be confused with insects if you get you're ear in

 

[phil baber]

Roesel's Bush Cricket in Southern Europe is the only insect to sound almost the same. (British Warblers. Simms. 1985 p131.) The only other confusion risk is the rare Savi's Warbler, and a free-wheeling bicycle. Though the latter is easier to see! Xeno-Canto is THE site for bird sounds! Spend a few days at Portland Bird Observatory, Dorset from mid-April. Not only can you hear them well,but you'll get the chance to see them in the hand!

 

[Jan-Paul Charteris]

Roesel's Bush Cricket in Southern Europe is the only insect to sound almost the same. (British Warblers. Simms. 1985 p131.) The only other confusion risk is the rare Savi's Warbler, and a free-wheeling bicycle. Though the latter is easier to see! Xeno-Canto is THE site for bird sounds! Spend a few days at Portland Bird Observatory, Dorset from mid-April. Not only can you hear them well,but you'll get the chance to see them in the hand!

Overhead powerlines can also throw you

Jan

 

[birdboybowley]

Overhead powerlines can also throw you

Jan

Especially if you touch them....:-O

 

[phil baber]

Especially if you touch them....:-O

Touché! Ouch! LOL! :O ;-)

 

[Jan-Paul Charteris]

Especially if you touch them....:-O

:t::-O Yip, I walked into that one lol!

 

[Simon G]

Roesel's Bush Cricket in Southern Europe..

..and now spreading in the UK (cracking insect too!).

 

[phil baber]

..and now spreading in the UK (cracking insect too!).

Hopefully the Marsh Frogs will curb their march northward. Otherwise it's gonna get pretty confusing! :eek!:

Were they introduced, or did they get here unaided Simon? Or have they always been in Southern England?

Is it Wart-Biters that pretend to be River Warblers? This is a dominant sound on Portland in high Summer at dusk. But, to my mind is only slightly similar to my experience of stridulating (now there's a word!) Polish River Warblers.

PS If you can get hold of a copy of Eric Simms' British Warblers in the New Naturalist series it's well worth it. A fantastic book!

 

[phil baber]

Sorry, just seen your link! Silly me! Fascinating.

Simm's only mentioned them in the Camargue region. I didn't know that they were here at all!

 

[phil baber]

So here's a link to a sound file of Roesel's.

http://www.junglewalk.com/popup.asp?type=a&AnimalAudioID=7345

I think it might be slowed down slightly?

But if you heard this from a distance, I guess there might be a slight confusion risk with a Gropper? To my mind though, and it's the first time I've ever heard it, it is more reminiscent of River Warbler!

A word of warning! Turn your volume down on first play, because it sounds like you're being strafed with machine gun rounds! :eek!:

 

[SarahDal]

Great responses, thanks everyone!

 

[ammadoux]

listen to them here: http://www.xeno-canto.org/browse.php?query=grasshopper+warbler

LOL my friend, thanks a million for this fantastic linkvo