Blyth's Reed - At last!

After having seen a non accepted bird on Blakeney Point a few years ago it was great to see a 'no doubts' singing male at Warham Greens today.

First new UK tick of 2012 .. And did not have to travel too far to see it.
On arrival there were only about 15 people listening and trying to see the bird. This shows how regular they have become and how this species no longer has the ability to pull in a big crowd compared to just a decade or so when it was a real rarity! However, a singing bird in summer is still a rare treat and makes it a bit easier to identify.
The song was much slower than Marsh Warbler and without all the mimicry, although I'm sure I heard a few Great Tit calls! Full of whistles and unlike any Reed or Sedge Warbler!

The behaviour also reminded me of the birds I have seen in India. Always on the move in low to middle scrub. In fact even while singing it was moving around and made it very hard to get a glimpse.. The view I had would not get it through any BBRC description report but with the conclusive song.. Who cares! Plumage could be seen to be greyer than Reed but always hard to decipher.

On the whole.. A really enjoyable mini twitch. Now, what will my 451st UK bird be? Not many 'scarce' rather than very rare birds left

Summer time

The Rain has started , so it must be Summer time in the UK

The moths have started appearing including this very smart Eyed-Hawkmoth caught a few days ago

I will now give the Point a rest until the Autumn



I have ended the Spring with no rare birds found (I did manage a Blue-headed Wag at Cley a few days ago)

The Bee-eater at Cley was nice but no new birds yet seen this year - The one day Orphean Warbler would have been a UK tick but was not able to go and see it . The Channel Wagtail was a new 'form' for me and was probably my favourite bird of the Spring, closely followed by Spotted Flycatcher which is one of my favourite, charismatic, birds.

So what will the Summer bring??