Paddyfield Warbler, Bulgaria - Romania border.

Today, unbelievably we were on the trail of the Paddyfield Warbler. This little Warbler breeds in temperate central Asia. It is migratory, wintering in Pakistan and India. It is a rare vagrant to western Europe although there are small breeding populations along the western shores of the Black Sea around the border between Bulgaria and Romania. Dimiter knew where to find these little birds - I won't say it again about local knowledge, we found ourselves on a track which bordered a small reed bed and as we walked along we could hear their song - somewhat weaker than Reed Warbler and with less mimicry than Marsh Warbler. (I add that we only recognized this after Dimiter pointing these songs out). These birds nest low down in the reeds but on a sunny day like like today they were showing from time to time.



Notice the pale lower mandible with a black tip and also the distinct supercillium.