Chiff Chaff today

[Guinnessman1974]

Heard first calling Chiff Chaff today on my local nature reserve today, 20th March.

Anyone else seen / heard any, or Willow Warblers etc., this year yet?

[thebeard]

not myself, but there have been various records in nottinghamshire this week

[Dan Salter]

My BTO ringing trainer ringed a chiffchaff about a week or two back...and i know Gill Catton heard one calling a couple of days back....none for me yet =(

[aeshna5]

I've not had a singing Chiffchaff yet, but did see a couple of over-wintering birds last month.

[darrenm]

not heard a Chiff-Chaff in Notts yet but a friend visted last night and said they had two on a local patch and also two Wheater were present and showing well. Did get good views of a single wintering Chiff-Chaff in Colwick Park in January but it was silent and moving about with the Tit Flock near the Walled Garden

[aeshna5]

After my comment early today about not having heard a singing Chiffchaff, I've now heard 4 locally during the day.

[Dogghound]

Had one today although its a bird that has spent the last month or so here. Was singing.

[Guinnessman1974]

Have seen another 2 Chiff chaffs's today!

[Dan Salter]

Ok im going to spend my entire 'lunch break' (Oh how odd that sounds having been a student and unemployed for the last few years!!) tomorrow outside listening for a chiff chaff! i feel all left out =(

[Guinnessman1974]

Is it at all possible that the Chiff Chaff I heard, as mentioned at the top of this post, spent the winter in the U.K? I heard one calling on the same place, on the same site last September.

Also I wonder that, if it may well have spent the winter in Africa, what are the chances that it is exactly the same bird that had returned - six months later?!

I only ask because I read that many Blackcaps and Chiff Chaffs are resident now in the U.K?

I'm trying to learn more about the migration habits of birds as it's a fascinating topic.