Sibe Chiff

I found my second patch Siberian Chiffchaff of the year this morning, this one was quite showy, flitting around the brambles and roses by the new timber screen. When I first saw it, it wasn't calling at all but looked liked a classic tristis, the sun had just come out after the thick fog of early morning and the light was nice but I had no camera so I dashed back to the car for it, hoping it wouldn't fly off with the tits and the Goldcrest they were with. Thankfully, it was still there when I got back and I rattled off a couple of shots.

From the east - Sibe Chiff

A different light, but spoiled by a twig

It called, but not often and I managed to record a single call before my phone died. I use Voice Record Pro for iPhone and if the battery is low, it stops recording which is a bit of a bugger. 

This is my second Siberian Chiffchaff of the year after the one I found on 25th October. Sibe Chiffs aren't common on the patch, certainly not annual. They're a description species for the local records committee (rightly so) and I think most people need to have photos and a sound recording to get a record accepted so hopefully these two will pass muster (I didn't manage to record the bird last month so that may well get canned).

Other than the Sibe, it was pretty quiet on the patch, I had a look on the beach for Snow Buntings or even a Shorelark but all I found was the remains of an expensive firework party. 

The Lesser Whitethroat that was around at the weekend stayed faithful to the same place until Wednesday at least, I couldn't see it today. I never managed a photo of it, such a skulker, but I don't think it was an 'eastern' type. 

There's been a bit of VizMig this week with a few Crossbills and other finches over, some Tree Sparrow and Skylark passage and a few groups of Whooper Swans.