Let me know when that tide's coming in won't you

Let me know when that tide's coming in won't you

Wednesday 22 February 2023

Spring Come Early? (Probably not) - Chiffchaff

Whilst returning from the walk along Holkham Beach I caught a bird fly past me and it looked greenish in colour. It definitely wasn't a Greenfinch and for a few minutes I really couldn't place what it might have been. It was quite flighty and landed among some long duney grass. Best thing for it was to wait a while and try and get a second glimpse of it. It did eventually reappear and rather obligingly, it popped up onto a fence post so I could see it in all it's splendour. Through the binoculars I now re-evaluated this to be Chiffchaff. It did make me scratch my head though. This was very early February, not late March or April.

There it was though, sat in the sunshine quite happy doing it's thing. As the winters are becoming warmer, more and more birds are staying over winter. I guess there is plenty of food around for them otherwise they would head off again. So this may become more of the norm, just as Blackcaps are staying longer these days, or even the whole year. One way or another it added another year tick a month or so early.







13 comments:

  1. So petite and cute! Like a muffin!

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  2. I have just returned from a birding trip to Cuba, Adam, so I am just catching up on blogs. I had no internet connection down there so I have been totally out of touch for almost two weeks. In terms of your early Chiffchaff, I suspect that anomalies such as this will soon cease to be anomalies. Global warming is changing the migration patterns of many species. Good to have been in the right place at the right time.

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  3. What beautiful pictures of the chiffchaff, it looks like a down ball so cute.
    Due to global warming, the migratory birds are arriving earlier and earlier or simply stay and do not leave.
    Greetings Irma

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  4. Hello Adam, :=)
    What beautiful captures of the Chiffchaff. Delightful first image of the little fluffy ball.
    All the best.

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  5. Funny-- Just yesterday I noticed that a winter male Eastern Goldfinch had a touch of green in its yellowish head and upper breast. It was striking and reminded me that the only green songbird we have here is the adult female Painted Bunting.

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  6. So cute! It did give you so many interesting poses.

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  7. Hello
    Love your cute Chiffchaff, wonderful photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend.

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  8. ...beautiful captures, all of us are mixed up this year because of the weather.

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  9. It's exciting to see a bird when you don't expect too. What nice photos too!

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  10. What a sweet little bird that is. And it posed so nicely for you. Great shots.

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  11. A beautiful bird, and you photographed it so well.

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