Monday 23 January 2017

Siberian Chiffchaffs

Two Siberian Chiffchaffs, two collybita Chiffchaffs and a Goldcrest were in the line of trees bordering the Cricketfield Carpark by Albany Vets, Newton Abbot this morning. The second seemed to arrive in a tit flock about an hour after I found the first, but then remained with the other Chiffchaffs for the following half an hour I watched them, giving good views down to a couple of metres.

Rear-end comparison - tristis left, collybita right
Gleaming white in the sunshine...
...looking a bit Red-breasted Flycatcher-like

6 comments:

  1. Great photos Laurie, especially the under tail covert comparison

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    1. Cheers Mike, I was quite pleased how the comparison one turned out!

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  2. That's a good record Laurie. Lots of potential sibe chiff sites around the Teign - Coombe Cellars, Netherton sewage works, the Quay area, Hackney Marshes etc - would not have gone for the cricket field carpark! Just goes to show what's out there. All the best. Matt

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    1. Thanks Matt - slightly odd, but I think the warmth of towns and cities often draw birds like this in during cold weather, although I've walked under that line of trees many times already this winter and not had a single chiffchaff! Best wishes, Laurie

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  3. Laurie,
    Pete Dennis visited the site yesterday and found about 9 Chiffchaffs- he thought 5 of them looked good for tristis but wouldn't commit himself. Whats going on.. I lost nearly all the Chiffchaffs at the normally very good Clennon and Broadsands!
    Mike

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    1. Wow! I didn't check yesterday, but on Tuesday there was one tristis and three collybita. I've just been down in the last half hour but drew a blank - probably too late for much activity. I'll have to have another look tomorrow!

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