Thanks to volunteer Phil for his report and photos.
"Recent Sightings Friday 14 June – A Tale of Two Warblers"
There are many different species of warbler and by and large they all come into the “Little Brown Job” (LBJ) category, but some are just a little more colourful than others.
Earlier in the week I had become aware that a Savi’s Warbler had been found at Pulborough Brooks – cue lots of interest from birders.
I have heard of Savi’s Warbler before but had to look it up as it is rare in the UK, being right at the extremity of its breeding range after migrating from North and sub-Saharan Africa where it spends the winter. Only a very small number of breeding pairs are found each year usually in SE England and East Anglia, typically occupying reedbeds with small bushes where they perch and sing with a reeling sound like a Grasshopper Warbler. This is a more unusual song perhaps, but in looks the bird would certainly be classified as an ‘LBJ’.
On my Hides and Trails round I paid a short visit to the public footpath approaching the riverbank and found a small group of people there intent on finding the Savi’s Warbler.. One of these people had a brief glimpse perched on a bush and all had heard the reeling song, and indeed I was able to hear a few snatches above the sound of the strong wind. I left the scene to continue my duties.
At Winpenny Hide, for the best part of an hour, a male Sedge Warbler, also a migrant from Africa, was perched in a bush about 10 metres away singing its heart out. Occasionally it would fly away for a few minutes but would then return to the same perch. The bush was being buffeted by the wind throughout, but you could still hear the song above the wind noise.
This bird I think deserves some serious admiration for his perseverance.
You can also see that the Sedge Warbler is just a little more distinctive that your average ‘LBJ’ with a clear pale stripe above the eye contrasting with a darker crown and a bright red orange gape when it sings. They are of course very much more common with an estimated 260,000 territories in the UK instead just 1-3 breeding pairs in the case of Savi’s Warbler.
In my view these two encounters in one day illustrate beautifully how our common birds can outshine the rarities.