European Birds

Locustellidae : Grasshopper-Warblers & Grassbirds

Western Grasshopper Warbler

Locustella naevia

Nottinghamshire, England - March 2010

Grasshopper Warblers are usually very secretive and extremely hard to see.  They are summer visitors to Britain and just after their arrival in the spring is the best time for seeing them.  At this time they often sing from relatively exposed perches to lay claim to their territories and attempt to attract a mate. 

Nottinghamshire, England - March 2010

I was very lucky with the individual photographed here.  Not only did it decide to sing less than 10m from where I was standing, but the angle of the early morning light was perfect too!