Marsh Warbler

Shropshire's First

It has been confirmed by the Shropshire Ornithological Society that the Marsh Warbler seen this year at Priorslee Lake, is the first official record of this bird, ever to been seen in the county of Shropshire.

Below is a record of the sightings, a sound recording and photos, since Ed Wilson's initial sighting on 5 Jun 15, right up until 12 Jun 15 when it was last seen and heard by Martin Grant.

First Sighting

5 Jun 15

Absolute highlight of the day / month / year for me was finding what seems to be agreed is a Marsh Warbler at the lake this morning. This species is a rare breeding bird now confined to Kent, though until the 1980's there was a small population along the River Severn in Worcester. It is very similar in plumage to Reed Warbler – it takes a lot of experience to separate them on sight. But it has a very different song, much faster than Reed Warbler. It is an excellent mimic and the song can include snatches from dozens of other species including those that it encounters on its wintering quarters in Africa. It was the unfamiliar song that caught my attention and it took me ages to see the bird properly as there were plenty of Reed Warblers zipping about carrying food. A photo appears below and I managed to get some sort of recording of the song on my small digital voice recorder. Thanks to Martin Cade of the Portland Bird Observatory who believes both from the photo and the recording that it is this species. It is many years since I last encountered one and it is only my second-ever in the UK.

This Reed Warbler carrying food was one of the several I photographed by mistake while I was trying to find the singing Marsh Warbler. Even Marsh Warblers probably cannot sing with their beaks stuffed with insects!

And here is the Marsh Warbler singing away. I would point out the ID features to separate from Reed but they are subtle: shorter bill? not obvious when singing; rounder crown? not obvious when excited; slightly more prominent eye-ring? more prominent than what? And the plumage tones are likely to be unreliable in the 6:00am morning light even if the camera reproduces them accurately – and I know my camera gives obviously different results between A (automatic) and P (program) or S (Sports) settings.

Here he is not singing and in profile: shorter bill? rounder crown? possibly!


Audio of Marsh Warbler

(Ed Wilson)

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6 Jun 15

The Marsh Warbler was present again this morning singing from at least 4:30am onwards, though it became somewhat intermittent after c.6:30am. Good views early. The later arrivals to see the bird had to be patient and only caught glimpses. Seems it has caused quite a stir because it may well be the first record for Shropshire, at least in recent times.

Another view of the still-present Marsh Warbler: as noted above this may be the first record for Shropshire.

So we had better have another!

And another: this way around we may be able to make more of a positive ID from the plumage (the song means there is no doubt anyway). Sadly I have had to enlarge this somewhat but we see: no warm tones on the rump; that the primaries are quite dark with pale edges; and also that it has a longer ‘primary projection’ (the difference between the end of the longest of the innermost wing feathers (tertials) and the end of the longest of the flight feathers (primaries) – see Bird Forum Topography Here if you want to see it diagrammatically). ‘Longer’ of course requires you to know how long a Reed Warbler’s projection is or have some means to measure it: but reference to a field guide leads me to think this looks ‘longer’!

(Ed Wilson)

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7 Jun 15

The Marsh Warbler present again this morning singing from at least 4:30am but again did less singing later. Stupendous views early. One kind fellow let me look through his scope at the bird when it was singing face-on and unbelievably you could see the diagnostic white nails on the pale claws. “What sort of field-mark is that?” I have always thought: fine for a ringer but in the field? Just shows that with really good views ...

Well you can. That Marsh Warbler has pale feet and a very orange inside to its mouth!

(Ed Wilson)

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9 Jun 15

The Marsh Warbler was singing again this morning in the open at 4:30am but soon quietened down. Used a different bush to disappear into this morning.

(Ed Wilson)

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10th Jun 15

All day
Marsh Warbler still singing well today from 4:45am onwards in nettle-bed at west end but not showy.

(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood / Martin Grant)

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11 Jun 15

The Marsh Warbler heard briefly at 11:00am and seen and heard again briefly at 11:20am.

(Martin Grant)

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12 Jun 15

Marsh Warbler singing 12:40pm and seen well with bins and scope.

(Martin Grant)

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15 - 29 Jun 15

No sound or sight of the Marsh Warbler.

(Ed Wilson / John Isherwood / Martin Grant)