Sunday 12 January 2014

Burton Marsh - Siberian Chiffchaff

There were moments when I didn't know which way to turn! The Siberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita tristis was in the same area as the Pipits, occasionally announcing its presence with a soft 'Bullfinch-like' call and showing extremely well in a variety of habitats!

Including the tide wrack where it was almost pleading..... take me! In so doing, trying to tick all id features! 

The classic appearance of grey brown upperparts with contrasting off white pale underparts with no trace of yellow. An obvious green wing panel completes the key features.


Really dark (black) legs  and bill....



It spent a while searching for insects in the grass, extremely confiding.


In both images, the supercilium with contrasting darker area and warm buff of the ear coverts stands out.


Eventually it returned to the wrack, just one image without background clutter!


Finally a close up with all the salient features on view - what a cracking little Chiff


A double helping of good birds despite the freezing wind and poor light......