Tuesday 26-9-2000
Tonight whilst at Rye Meads I flushed a bird that was almost certainly Lanceolated Warbler. It was about 6.30pm and was starting to get dark. I tried to flush the bird again from where it had landed but with no luck. The vegetation it went into was also quite long and I feel it probably went to ground (as they do). I unfortunately did not have long or very good view of the bird. There is a very slim chance it could be a small dark Gropper, but I have seen Lancy in Hong Kong and am 99.9% sure this is what it was.

27-9 update as of 2:30pm
Extensive searching has not re-located the bird. I am going to have another look tonight, but don't hold out much hope as the boys gave it a very good bash this morning.

27-9-00 pm
Extensive searching by a number of the group has failed to locate any Locustella. Reed Warblers and one Sedge Warbler were located in the area, however, they were all easily viewable and flushed more than once, unlike the bird last night. I will not be submitting a description as two species cannot be ruled out:
Small Dark Gropper or wet Sedge Warbler (this may also account for the weak and fluttery flight??)

Having had experience of Lancy in the hand and in the field in Hong Kong I still hold the view that this bird was most probably a Lancy, you know when you get that feeling of jizz etc, but it looks like it will have to be one of the ones that got away.

Paul Roper