The nest is built amongst thick sedge grass." 



THE SEDGE WARBLER 



w 



HERE the wind rustles in 

 great reed beds, and the 

 waters dance and ripple 

 in spring sunshine, the 

 Sedge Warbler's merry, 

 hurried song is sure to be 

 heard. It is our com- 

 monest warbler, and in- 

 habits the shores of sedge-fringed lakes 

 and broads, osier beds, the banks of 

 sluggish streams, disused canals, and old 

 clay-pits ; wherever, indeed, aquatic 

 vegetation grows in sufficient quantity 

 and strength to form suitable cover, 

 throughout the three kingdoms. 



Although clothed in sober, incon- 

 spicuous tints of brown this bird does 

 not care to show itself very much, and 

 is consequently, more often heard than 

 seen. If, however, the observer will keep 

 still for a time, he will discover that 



it has a habit of working its way 

 to the topmost stems or branches, and 

 then flitting to another part, frequently 

 singing as it goes. Its two leading 

 characteristics are restlessness and gar- 

 rulity. Whenever I visit the Norfolk 

 broads where this species is very 

 numerous I always go to sleep the 

 first night with its persistent loud, imi- 

 tative song jerking and clattering through 

 my brain. The bird does not seem con- 

 tent with the long hours that span the 

 sun's arch on a June day, but sings on 

 and on until far into the night. Indeed, 

 it is ready to oblige anybody, who is 

 curious enough to listen, with a sample 

 of its vocal powers at any hour of the 

 night, and if you clap your hands, make 

 a splash in the water, or any other noise 

 near its sleeping-quarters, in reed bed 

 or bush, it will instantly wake up and 



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