Yellow-browed Warblers - I do love them and they seem to love me!

Today I was walking Max the dog up at Redwell Wood Farm and noting the complete lack of birds on the move!  Compared to some other recent visits, the skies were empty, the wind was dead still and very little was calling in the way of birdlife.  However, as I returned to the car I decided to check the hedgerow for Ring Ouzels and as I did a single high-pitched call came from behind me.

I knew immediately that it was a Yellow-browed Warbler but having only called once I immediately had doubts that I had really heard it.  However, I knew I had so I retraced my steps back to where I had seen the same species just a couple of weeks before - in the willows by the ponds.  The bird then called a few more times and showed very well along the edge of the bushes.  It even sat still long enough for me to get some 'classic' warbler shots - through the twigs.  A Firecrest also joined it briefly - an exact repeat of 2 weeks ago when both species were present!

It seems likely however that today's bird is a new one - after all I have walked past many times over the last few weeks without so much as a hint of a warbler.  To my mind, today's bird also appeared duller and had it not called I might have considered the possibility of a Hume's Leaf Warbler!  This is now the 3rd Yellow-browed Warbler I have found this year and the 4th ever that I have found within 5 miles of home.

After a very quiet vismig session at Potwells early this morning I headed back to the car at Redwell Wood Farm.  Vismig can be very hit and miss and given my good run of birds recently I wasn't too disheartened by the lack of passage over head.

As I walked along the track past the overgrown ponds I noticed quite a few Chiffchaffs active in the willows with one singing.  With the recent influx of Yellow-browed Warblers into the country I thought nothing could be lost by playing its "tswee" call.  I played a couple of calls but no response however, as I turned to walk on I suddenly heard two quiet and unmistakable calls!  I knew immediately I had a Yellow-browed Warbler!

I put the news out and others found it later in the morning and into the afternoon, calling well and occasionally showing.  Local birder and photographer, David Hutchinson, managed to get a great shot of it which is a lovely record of the moment.  A Firecrest was also found with it so definitely some new arrivals today.

Even more pleasing is that the Yellow-browed Warbler takes me to #148 for my Five Miles From Home List and is also a new bird for my 2024 British Year List.  It becomes the 3rd Yellow-browed Warbler I have found in Herts, the first being at Tyttenhanger in Jan 2019 and the second, a very special bird, being the 100th species for my garden in Oct 2020!  I think they are probably one of my favourite birds to find and this year seems to be a good one to go looking.