The two commonest warblers of the oak woods, the blackcap and garden warbler, are still singing vigorously, but now the foliage is so thick they are not often seen. Just occasionally one will come out and sing on the outer twigs of a tree, defying their usual cautious instinct and offering a good view of itself. The garden warbler’s song is a mellow warble that can go on for a long time; the blackcap’s song is a shorter, impassioned burst of rich notes. Song thrushes were rather quiet while they were nesting, but now many of them are singing again. They are experienced singers by now, and their song is more varied than it was at the beginning of the year. Blackbirds, robins and wrens are all singing steadily, but chaffinch song is falling off. A few marsh warblers have arrived here, as usual later than most summer visitors. They look like reed warblers, but have a far richer song, and nest among streamside flowers. One was singing on St Mary’s Island, Northumberland, yesterday.