Reed Warbler

A fairly common passage migrant and localised breeding summer visitor in good numbers. 

Warden (2003) describes an ongoing study of breeding at CVL which has an estimated breeding population of 900 pairs. 

The average arrival date is now April 10th, 13 days earlier than given by Bland (1992) with an earliest arrival on 24th March, 1973 at CVL [introduction to 1973 ABR].

The average departure is on October 6th, 12 days later than given by Bland (1992) with the latest departures on 16th December, 2007 at CVL [2019 ABR] and 26th December, 2019, at CVL. 

In addition, one was trapped and ringed at CVL on 30th January, 2015 (see photo below). 

Wheeler (1874) said it was a ‘very local summer visitor, Stapleton occasionally’ and Charbonnier (1899) ‘summer resident, nests sparingly in a few localities such as Nailsea and Saltford’. 

Palmer and Ballance (1968) mention ’24 nests found along R Avon, especially near Bath, June/July 1881 (Zoologist 1883)’. 

The 1925 SBR said it ‘breeds Chelvey and Yatton and some other localities in the lowlands. A pair or two some years at BL. Otherwise rare’ while Davis (1947) called it a ‘summer resident locally, nests in suitable reed beds’.