Reed Warbler photographed at Grands Marais/Pre [PRE] on 15/5/2011 Photo: © Paul Bretel (visit site)

The Reed Warbler breeds across the mid-latitudes of the Western Palaearctic, where it it the common warbler breeding in Phragmites reedbeds. It winters extensively across sub-Saharan Africa. In Britain, Reed Warblers are restricted to southern lowland England and have recently spread into south-west Wales. Very few breed in Scotland and this species has only recently colonised Ireland.

During the summer, the Reed Warbler is the commonest bird in the islands' marshes and many locals are familiar with its scratchy song. Smith was familiar with this species and wrote 'Mr MacCulloch put me on the right track as he wrote to say "The Reed Warbler builds in the Grande Mare..." I went to the place as soon as I could, and found parts of it a regular paradise for Reed Warblers, and there were a considerable number there, who seemed to enjoy the place thoroughly, climbing to the tops of the long reeds and singing, then flying up after some passing insect, or dropping like a stone to the bottom of the reed-bed if disturbed or frightened.' Sadly the wonderful picture conjured up by this lyrical description is rarely seen today.

There seems to have been little change in the status of this species although it may have spread out into other habitats as it is not currently restricted to large areas of Phragmites reedbeds and can be found in scrub, or tall marshy plants, along running douits or other marshy areas. In 1974, birds were recorded breeding in clumps of bamboos at Saumarez Park.

In spring Reed and Sedge Warblers arrive back at approximately the same time of year. The mean first date for migrants arriving back in the Bailiwick is 20 April. Small numbers pass through the islands but large falls, such as seen in the Sedge Warbler are rare. Most birds presumably pass straight over to their breeding areas further north. During the breeding season, birds are found in all the major marsh areas as well as damp areas such as Les Vicheries and marsy areas at Victoria Avenue, St PP.

In autumn, the first migrants arrive back in the second half of July and ringing has shown that the passage of Reed Warblers is protracted in autumn. Unlike Sedge Warbler, falls of birds involving more than 50 birds at one site are very rare and small numbers pass through until the middle of September. The mean date for English-ringed birds to be controlled in Guernsey is 21 August (95% confidence intervals 14 July to 23 September). The majority of birds passing through the islands are from the western part of Britain in an area incorporating the southern counties west from Hampshire, Somerset, Avon and south Wales. Reed Warblers are common in eastern England but there have been very few recoveries from these areas. These birds tend to be recovered in areas to the south and east of the Channel Islands. Belgian and Dutch-ringed birds have also been caught in Guernsey; these birds pass through the low countries in large numbers and, again presumably the bulk of these pass through to the east of the Bailiwick.