Aquatic Warbler

One of the real highlights of my recent Hungary tour was the views we had of Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola. It was a very windy day on the Hortobagy on May 8th. I was not sure at all that we would be able to find and observe this rare warbler. My good friend Dr Gabor Kovacs, a real expert on the species, agreed to help us out as he knew of a few very active singing males that he thought would come up onto the tops of sedge and grass stalks to sing if the wind dropped just a little. At 6pm we were in place and waited. Sure enough the wind dropped a little, several White-winged Black Terns flew by, a flock of Ruff and Wood Sandpiers rose up from the marsh and a Spoonbill came close overhead and a Reed Bunting and several Yellow Wagtails sat up and sang. The, the first Aquatic Warbler called, then flittted by, then sat up. Good views for all! We waited, and then another started to sing, did a flight display and sat up even closer to us than the first... success. Gabor was right. Of course.