chiffchaff

[tigertom]

Wilst out today came across a warbler that I am 95% sure was a chiffchaff was just 3 points that put a touch of doubt in my mind, on wing could see a faint wing bar, also did look a bit more yellow on parts of brest than would expect, and the contact call I can not seem to find one that match's very faint zeep or ziep no pic would not stay still long enough was in low rough scrub constantly on the move got good look so no it was a warbler legs looked darkish brown brightish supercilium.
THANKS
MIKE

[htcdude]

Sure it wasn't a Goldcrest? They like to skulk around in low scrub

Nige

[aeshna5]

When I was at Holkham yesterday I was told there was a Willow Warbler in a Holm Oak. This is of course very rare as a winter bird but not unprecedented. It was calling constantly + was monosyllabic + sounded like a Chiffchaff to me. I saw it poorly several times + from below it did look yellowish.

Later in the day it was nearby below me in some rough grass + I could see black legs + the tail was pumped still calling like a Chiffchaff which is what I believe the bird was. Seeing primary projection on this constantly moving bird was impossible.

[tigertom]

Originally Posted by htcdude

Sure it wasn't a Goldcrest? They like to skulk around in low scrub Nige

To big for gold crest had good look at it looked very mutch like CC expept for points in OP
Thanks
MIKE

[RoyW]

Have you tried listening to calls of the northern/eastern races of Chiffchaff Mike?
These races can have indistinct wing bars (they shouldn't be yellower below than the ones we se in the summer, but abientinus individuals can have a lot of buff below, and might look yellow in some lights). "ordinary" Chiffchaffs sometimes give 'odd' calls as well.


The one that you saw did sound very much like a Chiffchaff Aeshna5 - not much like a Willow Warbler at all the way you describe it.

[tigertom]

Originally Posted by RoyW

Have you tried listening to calls of the northern/eastern races of Chiffchaff Mike?
These races can have indistinct wing bars (they shouldn't be yellower below than the ones we se in the summer, but abientinus individuals can have a lot of buff below, and might look yellow in some lights). "ordinary" Chiffchaffs sometimes give 'odd' calls as well

Thanks Roy found a match for call now on xeno now and yellow could well of been the light as sun was lowish bright and on it. call match's easten race
Intresting
Thanks again
MIKE
P.S
How common are easten race in britain ?

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by tigertom

P.S
How common are easten race in britain ?

Which eastern race?

abientinus are fairly common as passage birds, and probably not uncommon in winter.
tritis and "fulvescens"(which are often now included with tristis) are scarce as passage visitors, with very small numbers recorded in winter.

[tigertom]

Originally Posted by RoyW

Which eastern race?

abientinus are fairly common as passage birds, and probably not uncommon in winter.
tritis and "fulvescens"(which are often now included with tristis) are scarce as passage visitors, with very small numbers recorded in winter.

Call matched best to abientinnus though one recording of tristis very simalar as well but abientinnus most likely I would think
MIKE