Sedge Warbler December WOODBRIDGE UK? (1 Viewer)

[Francesg]

Hi,
I spotted briefly a pair of small birds I thought must be sedge warblers:
Very prominent eye stripe
Slightly marked brown back feathers, not plain brown
Think white lower wing bars as it flew away

Date 10th Dec
In reeds beside Martlesham Creek near WOODBRIDGE. There are small scrubby bushes surrounding.

Is this possible please. Have they started to overwinter here? (Climate change)

Thanks,
Frances

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Hi,
I spotted briefly a pair of small birds I thought must be sedge warblers:
Very prominent eye stripe
Slightly marked brown back feathers, not plain brown
Think white lower wing bars as it flew away

Date 10th Dec
In reeds beside Martlesham Creek near WOODBRIDGE. There are small scrubby bushes surrounding.

Is this possible please. Have they started to overwinter here? (Climate change)

Thanks,
Frances

Welcome to birdforum! It's exceedingly unlikely that they were Sedge Warblers, and could be several things from the description. The wing bars are wrong for Sedge Warbler too. Have you considered female Reed Bunting?

 

[tconzemi]

Welcome to BF, agree that Sedge is most unlikely, maybe check also pictures of Gold/Firecrest (with wingbars but olive back and Cetti's Warbler: strong eye-stripe above eye, brown but no wingbars

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Also check out Wren and Meadow Pipit, both of which can be found in reedy patches

 

[mr.p]

Also worth checking picture of female Stonechat

Mr.p

 

[Francesg]

Thanks everyone. I’ve checked out all your suggestions.

It was definitely the female reed bunting. I’ve often seen the male bunting singing on the top of the bushes in the same area, which I identified by the black head, so immediately discounted it, not considering the female.

Have seen the Cett’s about in the summer, mostly identified by its vocals in early Spring.
Meadow pipit is too speckled.
Others no where near.

So - female reed bunting, thanks Larry.
Thanks for all the other suggestions.
Frances