Bearded Reedling
Often heard before it is seen
The Bearded Reedling is one of those birds that can keep you searching through the reeds for quite some time. Often, the first sign is its distinctive “ping” call somewhere nearby. Then suddenly one appears, balancing effortlessly on a reed stem, giving you only a short opportunity before disappearing again into the vegetation.
Featured photographs
My encounters
If there are two places in the northern Netherlands where I know I have a good chance of seeing and photographing Bearded Reedlings, they are De Onlanden and De Kiekkaaste. Although they can be found among the reed beds for much of the year, my favourite encounters are in autumn, early in the morning when the sun is still low, or later in the day close to sunset. At this time of year, their warm colours blend beautifully with the dry reeds, sometimes making the birds surprisingly difficult to spot.
For photography, calm periods with little or no wind are particularly suitable. The birds tend to climb higher on the reeds or bulrushes to feed on the seeds, making them easier to observe and photograph. Those quiet moments can offer some of the best opportunities to see them clearly against the warm colours of the autumn reeds.