Birdwatch: the Erling Haaland of warblers turns up the volume to 11

The great reed warbler, seen and heard at Ham Wall, makes its commoner cousin seem puny by comparisonThe song emerged from deep in the heart of the reedbed. It sounded like a reed warbler on steroids: that same, familiar rhythm, but an octave lower than usual.Almost the size of a song thrush, the great reed warbler is the Erling Haaland of the warbler family, who makes its smaller, more delicate cousins appear puny by comparison. When he momentarily materialised in the centre of the reeds, I managed to get a brief but satisfying view. Meanwhile, the waiting crowd of birders frantically clicked their cameras like paparazzi chasing a celebrity. Continue reading...