Blackpoll Warbler, Tunbridge Wells

[Adam Cheeseman]

There is a Blackpoll Warbler in a small woodland off the A264 in Tunbridge Wells. With a tit flock so it may not hang around. The wood is in a road called Cleveland off Sandrock Road.

Cheers,

Adam

[Adam Cheeseman]

Not seen this morning.

Cheers,

Adam

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Not seen this morning.

Cheers,

Adam

If the weather's anything like it is here I'm not surprised- pretty foggy!

[Adam Cheeseman]

Quite a few people looking for it, but there is a fair bit of woodland around there, particularly in Dunorlan Park across the road from where it was yesterday.

Cheers,

Adam

[Adam Cheeseman]

Seen again at 11.15 today.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Went down today. I heard it calling at 11am but could not see it in the dense vegetation in the woodland. There was a possible sighting at 12:00 but nothing otherwise. A very elusive bird!
One resident claims that it visits his garden early morning before being chased off by the local tits. Lucky devil!

Cheers,

Adam

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Went down today. I heard it calling at 11am but could not see it in the dense vegetation in the woodland.

Must have been annoying! What does it sound like?

Considering the time of year, there is a very good chance that it will be in the same area all winter (or at least until the first cold spell), so would it possibly be easy to see after more of the leaves have fallen?

[Adam Cheeseman]

Roy,

The call is a bit like the contact note of Grey Wagtail. It's a short, sharp, quite loud single note, not quite so metallic as the wag.

The understorey there is predominantly laurel, holly and the odd leylandii as well as the usual deciduous trees. Unfortunately, the bird was right in the middle of a dense patch of laurel and I couldn't get round to the right angle to view it. The woodland it prefers is on a steep slope with no general access, but it has a desire line path up through the middle. It has been elisive since it was found on Saturday.

Cheers,

Adam

[Adam Cheeseman]

Forgot to say that the weather down there was pretty grim as well. Foggy most of the day with a bit of rain early afternoon.

Cheers,

Adam

[Dogghound]

Fog and rain are good conditions, what you dont want is clear skies. The conditions described are more likely to stop the bird from moving to far. In my experience migrants almost always leave when you have clear skies, especially at night.