Willow Warbler?

[Dae]

My husband and I were out for a walk yesterday, and were stopped in our tracks by the unmistakable sound of a willow warbler singing. So at first, I continued listening, thinking it must be a song thrush mimic or something. But it continued to only make the willow warbler sound. Unfortunately I never got a look at it nor got a photo.

Is this possible? I double checked the sound on the rspb site in case my and my husband's memory was off, and it was that sound. The rspb site also says they don't show until April, so it seems unlikely despite what I heard, but is there the possibility of an overwintering bird?

Thanks!

[Tursiops2]

I've never heard of WW wintering in Britain, but there's always a first time. I do remember, however, from my earliest birding days, hearing a Treecreeper's song for the first time and being convinced it was a Willow Warbler until I saw the bird itself. Could that be what it was?
T2

[Dae]

I should've known better than to open my mouth and say "unmistakable", I'm such a dope. It was a chaffinch I heard singing.

[Downsouth]

Interesting topic. For about 15 years we've had a Robin copying the song of the Willow Warbler, an endearing little cadence. Repetitive, but doesn't tire us anyway.
Can't be the same Robin so either new ones hear this early visitor, or adult Robins teach their young ones the warbler's song. Also may overwinter here? For the first time, this winter fairly sure heard one in a copse near Poole Harbour.
Some years ago a tatty old Jackdaw in our neighbour's tree regularly copied their telephone ringing, near-perfectly. One day I was in the front garden when the Jackdaw's telephone rang, or was it the neighbours.
Hope in topic to include this verse from a poem on the Willow Warbler, but I have too many floating around in a mostly empty space, so possibly inaccurate. Can't recall the Author either.
Its song, melts away
The long winter grey
Sings of sweet hope
And let no late frost
Stall its trilling throat

And a Willow Warbler's little throat singing for joy can be seen, Type AOL willow warbler singing away.. (for good version) clinging to a Conifer swaying in the wind.
Downsouthers

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Dae

I should've known better than to open my mouth and say "unmistakable", I'm such a dope. It was a chaffinch I heard singing.

But it could have been a Siberian Chiffchaff (tristis) (song different to our western chiffys with a longer more melodic tune (although still monosyllabic notes). Would be a hard job to prove though.

Incidently, Willow Warbler are on average arriving earlier ... 31 March is average date but I've found one Welsh record dated 8th March and one in Bucks dated 4th March (assuming they were correctly Id'd!)

There's yet to be a confirmed record of any wintering Willow Warblers in the UK .. they are very long distant migrants (it's usually the shorter distant migrants than end up wintering here)

[DuncanE]

Intresting you said this cos about this time last year there was a warbler singing away in the car park here at work. (I remeber commenting in a post - can't find it now though.) So there is a chance of an over-wintering warbler I suppose.

[Dae]

Well having heard the chaffinch song, I now cannot be certain at all what I heard. I usually take the stance that if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is - so I'm going to lean towards chaffinch. I really do feel such a dope

It is interesting though that a few of you have heard this warbler or birds mimicing this warbler - I wonder why they would mimic this bird? For variety or for a purpose?

[Adam Cheeseman]

A lot of robins singing less than whole heartedly do sound a bit like willow warblers. So much so that each year I get caught out by a robin when I think I'm hearing the first WWs.

Cheers,

Adam

[ChrisJB]

In my younger days, I would often mistake Chaffinch song for Willow Warblers.

Regards, Chris

[Downsouth]

Robins mentioned, only copy Willow Warbler song at about this time so it's noticable when not included, could buy a recorder to prove things. Dad taught me quite a bit about wildlife and more than 60 years ago knew the songs of commoner warblers Chiff Chaff, Wood, and Willow Warbler.
If we did hear a W W it may have been a pal of this Swift: Before dusk first week of December 2007, saw a Swift flying around the houses in Swanage for about 20 mins, then disappear into the gloom. Next morning got there early and stayed a while but didn't see it again. We haven't the slightest idea why decided to have such a long holiday. Phoned the local reserve warden but wasn't sure if he believed it or not.
Chiff Chaffs have overwintered in Dorset over half a century in small numbers, but didn't see any during this colder winter.
Downsouthers