After the sunshine of the previous day it was a surprise to see the overcast conditions after some overnight rain. I had always planned to spend the day at Fishlake Meadows and this hadn't changed.
As I got out of the car I could hear a Garden Warbler singing from the scrub between the car park and the canal. This site being one of the bet places to see and hear Garden Warbler.
I turned on to the canal path and headed north choosing not to go to the viewing points off the road. As I passed the first bench I immediately heard the reeling song of the Grasshopper Warbler and it wasn't difficult to find the bird for once, it was singing from the middle of a small leafless bush.
Grasshopper Warblers are not that easy to see, I have definitely heard more than I have seen. This one was the easiest I have ever come across.
Depending on the direction of the mouth affected the volume of the reeling, however one or two other birders couldn't hear it at all.
The grasshopper warbler is of course named for its reeling song, which
is a long, continues sound that supposedly resembles an incredibly loud grasshopper, however for me it is more like a fishing reel, but I suppose Fishing Reel Warbler just wouldn't be suitable.
This small migrant nests in scrub and reedbed and feeds on insects. The grasshopper warbler has declined hugely in recent decades giving it Red List species designation. The decline is due to loss of habitat in both its summer and winter ranges.
It would drop from the bush and into the grass, but would return to continue its song. It is brown with darker streaks on the upper parts.
It was a treat to see, hear and for once photograph this highly secretive little bird.
As well as the Garden Warbler by the car park there were two in the same area as the Grasshopper Warbler. Related to the Whitethroat and Blackcap iit is a rather non-descript looking warbler with a large bill and plain features. This one was looking as if it was collecting nesting material.
I left the "Gropper" and walked along the canal path towards the centre path. One of the large Willow tree's trunks was covered in yellow fungi, which I later identified as Chicken of the Woods, good to eat apparently.
A little further there was a female Blackcap collecting nesting material down by the edge of the canal water.
Taking the centre path the sedge Warbler were singing and this one was hiding behind the branches of one of the trees.
On th epool at the start of the centre path to the screens there was a Great Egret, which took off and flew away from me. I was surprised to see the black bill as they are usually yellow, but I later learnt that this was the breeding plumage. But they also have a blue lores behind the bill and in front of the eyes, and red legs. You learn something everyday.
There were more Sedge Warblers singing along the centre path, this one singing from the edge of a willow tree.
There were a few hirundines around the pools at the screens and high above the reserve were at least four Swifts. There wasn't much on the water, a few Greylag Geese, bu a surprise was this pair of Pintail. A little bit late for these ducks.
Reed Warblers were singing from the reeds in front of the second set of screens. They are not easy to see, but I managed to get a short glimpse.
Walking back along the canal path there was another "Reed" species, the Reed Bunting, a male singing from the top of a bush.
A Cuckoo called from north of the cross over path, but never showed. Along the Canal path there were more warblers. A skulking Cetti's Warbler along the edge of the water.
A singing male Blackcap.
At the second viewing platform another Garden Warbler singing from the top of a tree.
The other "sylvia" warbler, the Whitethroat showed in the scrub.
Then out into the open on a branch.
The Grasshopper Warbler was still singing from the same bush as I walked back. It wasn't showing any closer than earlier.
Great to see the Grasshopper Warbler for once and a good collection of warblers all across the reserve.
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