5 MORE REEDBED BIRDS TO FIND IN MARCH
While March can be a good time to watch reedbeds for Bitterns, they can be very shy, so keep an eye out for these five species while you’re at it…
Marsh Harrier
Fortunately, this raptor makes no effort to remain inconspicuous – look for it gliding low over reedbeds and nearby areas, its wings held in a shallow V shape. We never get tired of pointing out that there are still fewer in the UK than there are Golden Eagles. Their main strongholds – East Anglia and the Somerset Levels – though, make them accessible and easily seen.
Cetti’s Warbler
There’s a theme emerging here, isn’t there? This species – unusual among our warblers in that it remains here in the winter – is again very difficult to glimpse, but it advertises its presence with its very loud, utterly distinctive song, which the Collins Guide renders as “Listen! What’s my name? Cetti Cetti Cetti. That’s it!” Mainly found south of the Humber, but rapidly spreading northwards.
Water Rail
Another skulker, more often heard than seen – its squeals, usually likened to a pig, are loud and far-carrying. During very cold weather, they are sometimes forced out into areas of more open water, or even onto exposed mud, grassy banks and the like, where they will take a variety of food. Found in most of the UK.
Bearded Tit
Not really a tit at all (it’s not closely related to anything), and with more of a moustache than a beard, this is nonetheless a very handsome species. Even small reedbeds can attract wandering birds in winter (which may then stay on to breed), and it is expanding in the UK, in both range and numbers. Listen for their 'pinging' calls. Found mainly in south and east England, and in Scotland, especially the
Tay reedbeds.
Reed Bunting
Far from tied to reedbed habitats, they can turn up everywhere, from back gardens to high moorland. But while they’re numerous and widespread, they can cause birders trouble, because males moulting into or out of their distinctive black-headed breeding plumage can appear in a bewildering variety of guises. If you see a small bird in a reedbed that you can’t identify, this is your first suspect.