Which lbj likes to hide in long grass?

[Deb London]

I just flushed a "little brown job" type bird from an area of long grass. I walk this field regularly and this has never happened before. I followed it with my eyes and it didn't fly far. It flew towards a hedge, but dropped down shot of it into more long grass. I waded into the grass and it was all really quite tall, well over 2 feet. It didn't show again.

It reminded me a little of a reed warbler or similar. It was that sort of colour. Similar size, or possibly smaller. Maybe a slight undulation to the flight. I couldn't see any markings, but there might have been something slightly different about the tail. Quite blunt maybe - just something that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

I'm not asking for an ID, but can anyone suggest any birds with this description.

What would hide in long grass?

Thanks.

[Chris Hawes]

My first thoughts were either a skylark or meadow pipit - maybe one of those?

[solus]

Originally Posted by Deb London

What would hide in long grass?

In my experience, anything that doesn't want me to see it!

Skylarks and pipits come to mind but then so do finches feeding on grass seed, starlings and thrushes feeding on ground invertebrates, buntings, dunnocks.... could be a lot of things really. Without a good view I think this may well be another "one that got away".

[Deb London]

Thanks both.

I was watching pipits at the weekend and the tail seemed to be shorter.

This bird was completely silent.

Yes, it is one that got away. Although I can eliminate Starlings and thrushes - nothing like one. It wasn't one of the usual Goldfinches and it had no green either - Chaffinches and Greenfinches are around but not one of these. I have never seen a Dunnock do this - lie low in a field that is and then get freaked, fly a short distance and miss the hedge.

Personally I think it was either a warbler acting a bit differently, or something that I have never seen in the area before.

There are Skylark less than 1 km away. There have been Linnet reported too - never seen one yet. I'll keep my eyes and mind open.

Thanks again.

[Synn]

First thought was a Whitethroat, I saw many of these popping out of the long grasses, reeds and willowherbs when I was in Oxford.

[Deb London]

Good suggestion - when I saw it I wondered about this warbler. Not an uncommon species there at all. It's very interesting to know that they might do this because I've only ever seen them on small shrubs being really obvious, often with the rest of the family. Ta.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Deb London

Yes, it is one that got away

At least you are sensible enough to know that. Realistically there is no way that this bird can be identified from such a brief description of its behaviour!

Originally Posted by Deb London

Personally I think it was either a warbler acting a bit differently, or something that I have never seen in the area before.

There are lots of possibilities, including pipits, larks, buntings, or finches (most will fly some distance when fluched, often calling, but some don't - sick or very young individuals are perhaps the most likely not to fly far).
Warblers such as Whitethroats regularly feed in tall(ish) vegetation, but when flushed the typical reaction is to fly out into a nearby bush or similar, often perching fairly openly when they do so and giving alarm calls. One species that springs to mind that would be expected to show behaviour like that described is Grasshopper Warbler - the description of a (possible) blunt tail doesn't really fit though, the tail of Gr'oppers often looks curiously pointed.
Gr'oppers are one species that you wouldn't always expect to fly out when approached though, they will often 'escape' by running away through grass...

[Deb London]

Ha, ha, thanks for the valued opinion Roy.

I wondered if it might have been some weary traveller having a break from migration. I will never know of course. I just wondered if there were birds that behaved like this, jumping out of grass and almost flopping down again a few meters away (other than the local pheasants that is, but "experience" tells me it wasn't one of them - a tad on the small side ).

[2dogs2000]

I have never heard of a grasshopper warbler but I have heard one and didn't know it.

It flitted about in the long grass and was very quick so I couldn't even describe it apart from size. I did hear its' call and after checking on the RSPB website I am convinced that is what I saw and heard. (This was earlier on in the year).


Thank you for solving my problem.

[gregA]

Hi i had a similar thing happen today thought it was a reed warbler or whitethroat but it had a white tail bar. This bird flew out in front of me and only flew around the bush and dropped down into the edge or the long grass next to it. any one point me in the direction of any suspects as no doubt when i go back tomorrow it won' be there
gregA