ML419491441

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

On this day, I happened to visit the Baruipur Wetlands for birding. I stumbled upon a known reed-bed and a gut-feeling told me this was the exact habitat where I could try my luck: It was a Reed patch with backdrop of a dry grassland, water at the base and dry pith-branch skeletons lying thud on the water. I observed a small Locustella warbler foraging silently at the base of the reeds on the pith branches. I played the song :- It did not respond but showed coordinated movements. It came further in the open. I took a few snaps and tried to still conclude the exact response. I played the call now and lo, it called back ! Not the same call I was playing but a typical Grasshopper warbler like *tk tk tk call*. That was it ! I was 95% sure this was what I have been searching for years, but I could not make myself believe still. 1. A lance-headed ( tapering head with a flattened forehead ) bird that in any posture doesn't show a rounded head unlike Common/Pallas's Grasshopper warbler. 2. Bold, dark streakings on the underparts right upto the throat. 3. Song is continuous grasshopper-like buzz. 4. Call is a variation of disjoint or close-played *tk tk tk*. 5. No white tips to tail retrices differentiates it from a Rusty-rumped Warbler. ( A juvenile Rusty-rumped may have scattered streaking on underparts but it is mostly on flanks in that case. Also Rusty-rumped at any age would show white tip to tail ). 6. Bolder streakings eliminates Common Grasshopper Warbler. 7. Call recording is a bit tricky with the bird as the bird only calls when a playback is used and stops calling when the playback is stopped. We tried to record the call next day. Please visit this checklist for further updates : https://ebird.org/india/checklist/S103548538

Technical information

Dimensions

4242 pixels x 2828 pixels

Original file size

7.78 MB