The Garden Warbler - a top singer.

The Garden Warbler is one of the top singers that arrive in the UK in spring. However, getting good views of this songster is another matter. They can be particularly difficult to see out in the open, they dart around a dense copse or line of trees singing continually but not keeping still for too long. They have a gentle appearance with few prominent features to help with identification. The two salient ID points are the white eye ring and grey nape. The best way to locate them is by their song, but even this to the untrained ear can be difficult, being easily confused with the Blackcap, another top songster. However, with practice the Blackcap is flutier with more mellow notes and in addition the Garden Warbler’s song usually lasts longer than the Blackcap’s and is quicker and more staccato like. Early this morning I was walking near a small woodland when I could hear at least two Garden Warblers singing vociferously and as I got closer I could see that there were two birds having a singing competition announcing their territories. One bird was very close so I set up and waited in hope for a clear shot and after many failed attempts I finally located it singing from a branch out in the open.



I managed a few more quick shots from different perches before it went quiet.

In the image below you can clearly see the white eye ring and grey nape patch.



Unfortunately but predictably the rain showers started to fall again so I retreated back to the car and called it a day - Oh for some settled weather and a bit of warmth.