A Winter Warbler 9th January 2025

A Yellow browed Warbler has, since before Christmas, been spending its winter days feeding on the ground beside the lake at Frampton Court, Frampton on Severn, Gloucestershire and giving exceptionally close views.

I was away in Scotland when it was first found but daily reports from birders going to pay homage kept me enthused and it became obvious that the bird was likely to remain there for the winter. If its continued presence was not incentive enough to go and see it the fact it was highly approachable, ridiculously so and  for the most part feeding on the ground in one small area, presented an almost unique opportunity.

I decided that should it still be there on my return home I would go and see it.After all it was only an hour's drive away and how often can one get really close to a Yellow browed Warbler for an extended period?

We arrived at Frampton Court around lunchtime and making our way down a lane from Frampton village we crossed a stile and ventured out into the open parkland of Frampton Court with its scattered trees of varying sizes and the lake beyond.

We were aware that the warbler had slightly changed its feeding habits in the last few days by leaving its regular spot by the lake and beginning to range further over the parkland although still choosing to feed on the ground.

There were a couple of other birders wandering around fairly aimlessly when we arrived but on enquiring of one we were told the warbler had been seen only ten minutes ago but was ranging from various isolated areas of dead vegetation under the small trees.We were shown where it was last seen but now, of course  there was no sign of it

This small patch of withered and cut stalks, leaves and grass below the small tree was the warbler's chosen place to feed. When it had thoroughly examined the whole patch it would fly to another  patch similar to this one

As nobody currently knew where it was we checked the various favoured areas it had been reported from, more in hope than expectation. We knew it was definitely here so all we had to do was find it - a tiny, dull green bird hardly bigger than a Goldcrest, feeding on the ground amongst dead vegetation - no problem then!

For fifteen minutes there was nothing to show for our efforts. I walked towards another small tree with a circular patch of dead vegetation and grass below it and detected a tiny movement amongst the tangle of leaves, stalks and blades of grass. 

It could almost be a mouse but no, it was the 'yellow browed' flicking in and out of the jumble of  aforesaid dead vegetation. A tiny bird superficially similar to a Goldcrest in size but with a plumage that was much more varied, pale lemon yellow stripes and bars breaking up  its predominantly moss green upperparts and the yellow brows  (supercilia) prominent across each side of its crown.I was also taken with its orange feet and legs, something you do not get to see that often as these hyperactive sprites are usually zipping about in trees.

It was forever active, never stopping feeding for a moment, hopping in and  out amongst the litter of vegetation at ground level, picking off tiny invertebrates from the stalks and leaves. It was relentless in its searching and judging by the microscopic size of its prey it had no option but to keep feeding this way in order to survive.

As far as I could see it was in excellent condition and the severe cold weather so far had not inflicted any adverse effect on its well being. Maybe its tameness was a result of it having to balance the need to feed constantly against a wild bird's innate caution.Conversely, coming from the vast forests of Siberia it may never have seen a human before and as a consequence felt no fear of its human admirers.Whatever the reason its behaviour was far from normal.

I have never been this close to a Yellow browed Warbler before, even on Shetland where they are now almost common in autumn. Individual birds are now wintering in Britain on an annual basis and it is a growing trend for a number of these tiny Siberian gems to be found in Britain during our winter.Today for instance there were reports of individuals in Glamorgan, Hertfordshire and Devon as well as this bird at Frampton and in previous years I have seen birds in winter in both Sussex and Norfolk.

It is thought that a genetic defect in the bird's compass results in it migrating northwest which is in the opposite direction to where it normally would go to winter in southeastern Asia. A process labelled reverse migration. However it does not quite explain why more and more of these tiny birds are heading in our direction, the numbers increasing year on year each autumn.

We continued watching it hopping in and out of the stalks, dead leaves and grass - no blade or stalk remained unexamined and when it had satisfied itself that there was nothing more to be found it flew low and fast across the open ground to another similar patch and the ceaseless search for food began all over again.

We decided not to follow.

The next day the warbler could not be found in any of its usual places despite thorough searching.Last night was one of the coldest on record and I fear the worst and that it may have succumbed to the cold.