Spring brief summary

This spring was again fairly quiet on the bird front. Whitburn is never going to be like Portland but it has had some good spring migrants in the past including melodious warbler and Isabelline shrike. It can be worth the effort though as the team found out this spring. On the 31st May the team went along to the Big Mound to see what was about and heard what they thought was a marsh warbler singing. They set a few nets near to where it was singing and a few net rounds later the bird was in the net and in-hand identification confirmed it was indeed a marsh warbler and therefore a first for the obs. The following day an acro was heard singing in the same spot as the previous days marsh warbler. Nets were routinely set and as per yesterday a few net rounds later an acro was in the net, however it was unringed and looked different from the previous days warbler. In hand characteristics and measurements all pointed towards Blyth's reed warbler, another new ringing species for the obs. Photos below show the two warblers.

marsh warbler

© John Chapman

© John Chapman

Blyth's reed warbler

© John Chapman

© Harry Richardson

© Harry Richardson

© Harry Richardson