Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
May 18, 2001: Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve, Kent, England
After learning from another birder that these birds as well as reed warblers were in the area, I wanted to be able to get a good enough look to ID some of them, as I was not experienced enough to differentiate between their calls. I never did get a really good look at one, but several times I did see these birds in a parachuting song flight – the bird would rise up out of the reeds, going about six feet above the tops of the reeds, and then back down again. This is the song flight of the sedge warbler, so I was able to ID at least one of the two birds!
May 19, 2001: Lee Valley Regional Park, Hertfordshire, England
Finally got a good look at one of these birds – amazingly, it sat still long enough for me to see the pale supercilium and the streaky little back and reddish rump.
May 21, 2001: Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve, East Lothian, Scotland
LOTS of these birds throughout the park – singing their squeaky little song. I got a glimpse of several of them – my best view was of a rather drab bird – not much eyestripe or streaking. I saw several others in songflight.
Let me know what you think!