Birdielog - 040407 - Warbler Fascination :)

Hmmm.

I guess it is kind of an accomplishment to be able to tell the warblers apart. There are only three hereabouts anyway.....so it shouldn't be difficult, you say? Hmmm. Try it.

Actually it wouldn't be accurate to say there are only three - the Common Tailorbird is a wren-warbler anyway. And I also suspect an Orphean Warbler. But before this actually melts away into the foliage (like warblers often do quite expertly :))......

We have one reed-warbler - the Blyth's Reed-Warbler; one Hippolais warbler - the Booted Warbler, one leaf-warbler - the Greenish Leaf-Warbler, and one wren-warbler - the Common Tailorbird.

The Blyth's Reed-Warbler is with us from September to April. This a square-tailed tit or sparrow-sized bird, always skulking around in the bushes, olive brown in the wings, rump and tail, and white-dull-cream in the throat (usually a white throat) and belly. The distinctive call is its diagnostic - the harsh, sharp, single "tchitt" or "tchuckk" every few seconds (a lot many times, it is a silent bird). If you hear this sound, you can be sure it's coming from a nearby bush and you can be sure the bird is around (you can claim a sighting even if you don't see the bird!!!). The Blyth's Reed-Warbler is a bird very dear to my heart :) and is the proverbial "bird in the thicket".

The Booted Warbler is a bird I have identified only in the last few months. This is just a teeny bit smaller than the Blyth's Reed-Warbler, and looks like a smaller, duller Blyth's Reed-Warbler. The olive brown is not so pronounced, and neither is the whitish-cream-buff. Now this bird behaves appreciably unlike the Blyth's Reed-Warbler in that it resembles leaf-warblers, preferring low trees to bushes and thickets. It was the call that alerted me to its presence - it's still confusing, but as far as I know, it is a harsh, low "tchrrrrd". There also seems to be a "tcheck" which is feebler and not as sharp as that of the Blyth's Reed-Warbler.

Now telling the two apart would require a close-quarters sighting, because there certainly are distinguishing identifying marks. But to those who cannot manage this (that's most of us), what I've said in those two paragraphs should be sufficient. And if you can't tell them apart, listen to the calls, they are quite a give-away.

The Greenish Leaf-Warbler is a tree-dweller - Salim Ali's observation about the Large-Billed Leaf Warbler, "keeping singly to the crowns of medium-sized trees" would also be applicable. Now this makes it very difficult to see at close-quarters. But the call is distinct, and you will not see this little beauty in a low bush or a low tree - only the crowns of the trees will find this little fellow. The call is a lovely, refreshing, liquid single "chliwee" or "chisweet". Probably as large or slightly smaller than the Booted Warbler, and a lot greener. The call is a very refreshing call - and can be very comforting to know this little chap is around.

The Common Tailorbird is one of the first birds I learned to identify as a birdwatcher. Really not too difficult at all because the bird is not as skulking, secretive or uncommon as the other warblers. It is a bold bird, not flinching when sighted. The head is russet or chestnut-topped, the wings and tail are lovely light-grass-green, and the whitish-cream below. The distinguishing mark is the tail, which is sometimes long and pointed, sometimes shorter, but almost always carried jauntily cocked. This is a very industrious, busy bird, and there are a variety of lovely, cheerful, loud calls - a constant, busy-sounding "chip chip chip" is sometimes incessant. There is also a loud, endless "weechew, weechew, weechew.." as well as "weetoo, weetoo, weetoo..", etc. These latter calls can be very endless and can seem to go on forever in the summer. Very common in gardens, bushes, trees all across town....and a joy to have around. Very often, you hear the bird (surely the most vocal of the warblers) more than you can actually spot it.

So, that's the story about warblers........will have to see if the Orphean Warbler shows up. Watching them is fascinating because most of them are skulkers and very secretive....will not intrude. But when they do, it is a fascinating thing.