Iberian Chiffchaff in the UK

admin · January 5th, 2008, 06:12 PM

The following article has just been posted here.

Please use this thread to reply with your observations and feedback, recordings and photos. Thanks!

Colin Key · January 5th, 2008, 09:13 PM

Brian's article is EXCELLENT, and I will read it again when I have more time to study the accompanying photos.

I am surrounded by Chiffs all year round; the most common warbler by a long chalk and unless the weather turns very cold (i.e. insect life disappears) they will build up in huge numbers in S Europe. Of course, at this time of year they are totally silent, but their plumage variation has to be seen to be believed. I have positively identified Ibericas on plumage but given the variation in lighting they are VERY difficult. We have then from brown to grey to green to almost yellow, and some with pink legs too!!

Not for the nervous

Colin

AndyB · January 5th, 2008, 09:46 PM

Hi Colin, you're in the right part of the world for getting to know ibericus.

Roy Harvey · January 6th, 2008, 08:23 PM

In his article, Brian Small has referred to my film in the Surfbirds video section of the Colney (U.K.) Iberian Chiffchaff singing. With this clip being part of a montage of various U.K. rarities it only includes a short burst of song.
I have plenty more film of this bird singing and can make it available on Surfbirds in a longer clip, or elsewhere, if it helps in any way.

Roy.

Brian S · January 6th, 2008, 09:15 PM

Roy

It would be great if you could post more footage of the Ibe Chiff at Colney. If you have any of it calling it would be good, but any would be very informative.

Brian

Josh Jones · January 6th, 2008, 10:18 PM

Great article Brian- will certainly be re-reading in more detail when I'm not struggling through biology coursework!

Roy Harvey · January 8th, 2008, 12:28 PM

I have now sent more video of the Colney bird to Andy so, hopefully, he will put it on the site soon.
It is clear that this individual was not always singing its full song. Sometimes just the first seven or eight notes can be heard.

Roy.

Peter Hobbs · January 8th, 2008, 08:25 PM

Hi Everyone
Following Brian Smalls excellent & interesting article regarding Iberian Chiffchaffs and in particular the Lavenham Chiffchaff, I thought it would be a good idea to add some further dates and observations to the L.C. story. As Brian mentioned, the bird was discovered on 13/4/2007 but it was last seen on 1/8/07. It bred successfully with a common chiffchaff and four fledgelings were first noted on 10/7/07 (I managed to obtain a few pictures). The nest site was probably in a garden across the road, away from its normal patch(which it was still frequenting). I believe that a previous breeding attempt had been made in late May as our bird was seen food carrying during a cold and exceedingly wet Whitsun weekend. It was during this weekend incidentally that I was able to establish definitley that it was using a collybita call. It only (and rarely) appeared to call when in close proximity to other chiffchaffs, but increased its output in July, during the days following the young leaving the nest. We never at any time heard the Lavenham Chiffchaff use the classic 'seeoo' call of Ibericus as described by Brian.Thanks to Peter Evans we have extensive recordings of the L.C. including its call and these have been analysed by Martin Collinson (thanks again Martin) who has made various sonograms of its vocalisations and found definite Iberian elements (I almost forgot to mention that it was capable,during the latter part of its stay of, on a couple of occasions, rendering faultless collybita song!). Greg Conway at the B.T.O has pointed out that as far as he is able to discern from Bill Bastons flight picture, the primary measurements appear to correspond to an 'Iberian type' bird.
However, I'll leave you with a couple of lines from Jane Taylor who lived in Lavenham and who penned the immortal words...'Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.'

AndyB · January 9th, 2008, 07:07 AM

Roy's terrific video is now in the Video section and you can see it here. Best, Andy

Brian S · January 10th, 2008, 07:25 PM

Pete

Thanks for the additional info on the Lavenham bird. In my opinon the call of Iberian Chiffchaff is diagnostic, so if you categorically state that it called like a Common then I believe that is what it was.

That its song was so odd and seemed to have elements reminiscent of Iberian just goes to show that a cautious approach is necessary when faced with such a bird. I also note that a strangely singing chiffchaff in the Netherlands was not accepted because there was no recording of the call.

Brian S

January 5th, 2008, 06:12 PM	#1
admin Administrator Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 508	Iberian Chiffchaff in the UK The following article has just been posted here. Please use this thread to reply with your observations and feedback, recordings and photos. Thanks!

January 5th, 2008, 09:46 PM	#3
AndyB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,152	Hi Colin, you're in the right part of the world for getting to know ibericus. __________________ My Surfbirds Photo Albums

January 8th, 2008, 08:25 PM	#8
Peter Hobbs Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 4	Iberian chiffchaff Hi Everyone Following Brian Smalls excellent & interesting article regarding Iberian Chiffchaffs and in particular the Lavenham Chiffchaff, I thought it would be a good idea to add some further dates and observations to the L.C. story. As Brian mentioned, the bird was discovered on 13/4/2007 but it was last seen on 1/8/07. It bred successfully with a common chiffchaff and four fledgelings were first noted on 10/7/07 (I managed to obtain a few pictures). The nest site was probably in a garden across the road, away from its normal patch(which it was still frequenting). I believe that a previous breeding attempt had been made in late May as our bird was seen food carrying during a cold and exceedingly wet Whitsun weekend. It was during this weekend incidentally that I was able to establish definitley that it was using a collybita call. It only (and rarely) appeared to call when in close proximity to other chiffchaffs, but increased its output in July, during the days following the young leaving the nest. We never at any time heard the Lavenham Chiffchaff use the classic 'seeoo' call of Ibericus as described by Brian.Thanks to Peter Evans we have extensive recordings of the L.C. including its call and these have been analysed by Martin Collinson (thanks again Martin) who has made various sonograms of its vocalisations and found definite Iberian elements (I almost forgot to mention that it was capable,during the latter part of its stay of, on a couple of occasions, rendering faultless collybita song!). Greg Conway at the B.T.O has pointed out that as far as he is able to discern from Bill Bastons flight picture, the primary measurements appear to correspond to an 'Iberian type' bird. However, I'll leave you with a couple of lines from Jane Taylor who lived in Lavenham and who penned the immortal words...'Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.'

January 9th, 2008, 07:07 AM	#9
AndyB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,152	Roy's terrific video is now in the Video section and you can see it here. Best, Andy __________________ My Surfbirds Photo Albums

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January 5th, 2008, 09:13 PM	#2
Colin Key Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Algarve, Portugal Posts: 2,505	Brian's article is EXCELLENT, and I will read it again when I have more time to study the accompanying photos. I am surrounded by Chiffs all year round; the most common warbler by a long chalk and unless the weather turns very cold (i.e. insect life disappears) they will build up in huge numbers in S Europe. Of course, at this time of year they are totally silent, but their plumage variation has to be seen to be believed. I have positively identified Ibericas on plumage but given the variation in lighting they are VERY difficult. We have then from brown to grey to green to almost yellow, and some with pink legs too!! Not for the nervous Colin

January 6th, 2008, 08:23 PM	#4
Roy Harvey Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Lincolnshire Posts: 8	In his article, Brian Small has referred to my film in the Surfbirds video section of the Colney (U.K.) Iberian Chiffchaff singing. With this clip being part of a montage of various U.K. rarities it only includes a short burst of song. I have plenty more film of this bird singing and can make it available on Surfbirds in a longer clip, or elsewhere, if it helps in any way. Roy.

January 6th, 2008, 09:15 PM	#5
Brian S Moderator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Suffolk, UK Posts: 662	Roy It would be great if you could post more footage of the Ibe Chiff at Colney. If you have any of it calling it would be good, but any would be very informative. Brian

January 6th, 2008, 10:18 PM	#6
Josh Jones Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 157	Great article Brian- will certainly be re-reading in more detail when I'm not struggling through biology coursework!

January 8th, 2008, 12:28 PM	#7
Roy Harvey Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Lincolnshire Posts: 8	I have now sent more video of the Colney bird to Andy so, hopefully, he will put it on the site soon. It is clear that this individual was not always singing its full song. Sometimes just the first seven or eight notes can be heard. Roy.

January 10th, 2008, 07:25 PM	#10
Brian S Moderator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Suffolk, UK Posts: 662	Pete Thanks for the additional info on the Lavenham bird. In my opinon the call of Iberian Chiffchaff is diagnostic, so if you categorically state that it called like a Common then I believe that is what it was. That its song was so odd and seemed to have elements reminiscent of Iberian just goes to show that a cautious approach is necessary when faced with such a bird. I also note that a strangely singing chiffchaff in the Netherlands was not accepted because there was no recording of the call. Brian S