On Sunday afternoon an Aquatic Warbler had been found in Upper Beeding at Beeding Brooks, which is about 50 minutes from me. The bird was still there this morning so I drove there and walked along the footpath beside the Adur to the spot where about 10 people were already watching. The bird in question had been seen about 15 minutes ago and had gone to ground on the weedy embankment between the footpath and the river. It was about 40 minutes later that the Aquatic Warbler re-appeared, albeit briefly, called and then went to cover again, it did this twice more in the next 30 minutes. Eventually, after bumping into Gary and James, the bird showed much better, not for long periods but well enough often perching just above the thickest grass in an dried umbellifer stem.
A very smart looking warbler, which even though rare, used to be a recorded in the UK on a more regular basis, but not so much in the last decade or two. The Aquatic Warbler has been designated as Vulnerable and on the Red list for endangered species as its European breeding populations have come under threat, with much hope they will start to stabilise.
Very nice to see, a lifer for me as well.
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| Aquatic Warbler |
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| The weedy river bank of the Adur which the Aquatic Warbler was taking refuge in. |
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