Common Reed Warbler or Marsh Warbler

These two bird species share a very identical appearance and often it is only possible to identify them 100% when they are singing. But i have to admit that I don't remember the songs on that day anymore so I am unsure if it is an Common Reed Warbler or a Marsh Warbler. I assume with a greater confidence it is a comon reed warbler but I am unsure about it. I found this bird at Lake Balaton last year and both types of birds are common there and can be found there. One think I like about them is that you can hear them from far away and they often stay in there position singing for a while if they found a pleasant reedling to sit on. But the reed is often a problem to get a nice clean shot of these birds since most of the time there is reed between you and the bird.

Waiting in front of the reed and expecting the bird to change it's position is a good strategy as it might fly on a reedling that is better visible from your spot so sometimes waiting pays off very good. But I also had time when the bird didn't show up at all and the only thing I could hear was it's singing voice all the time.

One thing I also like when birds are hiding behind reed or some bushes is that I can sometimes really get close to them and with my long lens I can also get through most of the disturbing reed or bush and therefore "delete" out of focus disturbances from the picture.

Warbler sitting on reed and singing. Picture: Florian Glechner.