Garden Warbler

One bird that I seem to struggle with each year, is the Garden Warbler. and when I say struggle with, it's particularly the song. After so many months of not hearing one and having my ears fine tuned, this bird often sounds like a loud or excitable Blackcap. Add to that their secretive nature, and reluctance to sing nicely out in the open for all to see, it's been a bit of a bogey bird. Fortunately I now have a reliable spot for them just down the road, but it still takes my ears some getting used to distinguish between this and the Blackcap. 

Not a very exciting looking bird, with no obvious colouration or detail. It more than makes up for that with it's song. Nice to have them back for another year.

Garden Warbler - Lindow Common

I have never been able to photograph the Garden Warbler. These birds do not make it easy to see them, and more often that not they will sing from within trees or bushes. Also, they are not exactly brightly coloured birds, so not the easiest to spot as they move through the branches. During lockdown I found three pairs locally, and a couple of the males gave really good views. Of course, I didn't have my camera with me due to the restrictions. So I made it an aim of mine for this year to revisit the sites and see if they came back. This is where keeping handwritten records came in extremely useful, as I knew the dates and I'd seen them and where exactly.

I found two of the three pairs upon my first visit this year, and this time I had my camera at hand. They didn't exactly play ball as they did last year, but a little patience paid off, as I was able to get a few quick shots of one before it retreated back to it's hideaway. As you can see below, they are next going to win any awards for looks, but they do have a very nice song, and similar to that of the Blackcap.

The classic view of the Garden Warbler, if you are lucky.

It gradually made it's way into the open, but only briefly.