Probably no better way to start a day then a world tick. Just as I was getting up for work, this superb juv AQUATIC WARBLER was trapped and ringed at Charleston Reedbed this morning, and much to my delight a good friend kindly invited me in to take a look at it.
This is the tenth record for the Cuckmere Valley and 7th (?) for the site, and a brilliant reward for the hard work put in to maintaining this ringing site. A huge thanks to the Charleston Reedbed ringing group, although going to work smelling like a ditch was far from ideal.
Besides the obvious features such as the central crown stripe and mantle stripes, the pale lores, lack of streaking to the sides of the breast and straw-coloured look easily separate this from Sedge Warbler.
juv/1st winter Aquatic Warbler at Charleston Reedbed
