Birds in reed beds this time of year

[Deb London]

Hi all,

I want to pick your brains. Can anyone tell me which birds could be calling melodiously from a reed bed in Tring at this time of year? It sounded like a songbird, but (after the snipe thread episode, when I discovered you cannot always believe your ears) I could be wrong. It wasn't a harsh sound or a 'quack'. It wasn't a common garden bird that I can think of. It seemed to be hidden in the reeds.

I just want a list of possibles. Even if you are only able to add one novel suggestion, it will be valued. I'll explain. I have a recording of my 'artistic' interpretation of the call on a phone and will play each possible bird call against that giggly rendition. And hopefully I will learn lots of new calls, so really there can be no wrong suggestions. I just need ideas. I may hit the nail on the head, I may not.

Hope that makes sense.

Thank you!

[Dogghound]

It could possibly be a Robin, especially if there are any shrubs in the reed bed. Or a wren.

[Deb London]

Thanks D for the suggestions. Please keep them coming, as although I need to double-check the wren (I'm very familiar with the song, but are there other calls?), it probably wasn't those.

[Dogghound]

Both wrens and robins make a chaking (wren), or ticking (robin) alarm call unlike what you describe. Not may birds sing through winter. Can you give a little more detail on the reed bed? is it on a waterbody? is it urban?

[Deb London]

Hi D, it's in a reservoir, next to a canal, not at all urban.

If just heard myself again. The temp and fall and rise of pitch is very much like this:

XC46220 Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti) | sound on xeno-canto/europe

However, I want to remain realistic. I assume that I wasn't the person to hear a Cetti's at Tring yesterday, and I assume they wouldn't sing in autumn. But it's a bit like that.

Sorry to be vague.

(I would dearly love to invest in a proper mike, but first things first. I must to hone my wildlife observation techniques and stop being the person that misses everything before I jump the gun).

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Deb London

However, I want to remain realistic. I assume that I wasn't the person to hear a Cetti's at Tring yesterday, and I assume they wouldn't sing in autumn. But it's a bit like that.

Umm, what aren't you being realistic about?
Cetti's Warblers do sing in the autumn (throughout the winter in fact), and Tring Res seems like a likely spot (it would surprise me if there isn't one there at the moment). Cetti's Warbler would be thr first suggedtion I'd give - and in winter the song often doesn't sound quite like Cetti's Warbler if you know what I mean!

[Picidae]

Cetti's have a rather more muted song this time of year - but still the repetitive ' listen ... what's my name? Cetti's Cetti's ... that's it!' rythmic call and a variable thereof with more or less number of syllables.

Wren also spend much time in Reed Beds this time of year and also sing. Perhaps a little similar to the winter Cetti's in tone and volumn. Robin also sing but not so likely to be singing from reed beds.

[thebeard]

my first thought was cettis warbler too. lots of these birds are singing at the moment at attenborough, as well as a couple of other sites near notts. Now you just have to spot one!!

[Deb London]

Thanks folks. I will consider Cetti's more seriously.

Originally Posted by thebeard

my first thought was cettis warbler too. lots of these birds are singing at the moment at attenborough, as well as a couple of other sites near notts. Now you just have to spot one!!

Ha, ha! There's always a catch.

[RobinP]

Hi Deb

How about Bearded Tit? have a listen to the song on the RSPB site.

Robin