Birds of the World

Sylviidae : Old World Warblers

Great Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Derbyshire, England - May 2010

Great Reed Warblers are summer visitors to most of lowland continental Europe and breed wherever there are Phragmites reedbeds.

Derbyshire, England - May 2010

They are large warblers, only slightly smaller than a Song Thrush, and require relatively stout reeds to hold their weight.

Derbyshire, England - May 2010

They are rare vagrants to Britain with a few usually recorded each year, mostly in East Anglia and along the south coast. The individual in these photographs was the first to be recorded in Derbyshire and had been singing in the same tiny patch of reedbed since it was first found on 12th May. It is still present at the time of writing (30th May).

Derbyshire, England - May 2010