Nigel Richards wrote:

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I have tried to find details of How to find Wince Brook but not having much luck
Could anyone help, please
Thanks
Nigel

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See Rob Smallwood's post on Feb 16th on this thread which is about as detailed directions as you could get.

I have tried to find details of How to find Wince Brook but not having much luck
Could anyone help, please
Thanks
Nigel

Spent 3 and a half hours on the Wince, 2 of which I tried to hunt down the Chiffchaffs.

To the point, saw 3 Chiffchaffs, one of which is the Siberian Chiffchaff (I tripled checked). Another in the bright sunlight did appear quite grey, but on closer inspection was a Common Chiffchaff (if a slightly unusual one). In certain light it did seem less grey, and it's supercilium wasn't as prominent. This one confirmed its identity by singing and calling typically of a collybita/abietinus. Another bird was also seen, earlier on, and was a typical Common Chiffchaff. None had anything wrong with their feet. All seen downstream of Wood lane, near the Alders. They were very hard to follow, and I lost them quite a few times, but found them again in company of two other birders. Got a few photos, which aren't as good as my previous ones when the Siberian Chiffchaff was in the Buddleia, but I managed to get both Siberian and grey-looking Chiffchaff.

It seems that a good way to identify the Siberian Chiffchaff, especially in strong light, is to look for the slight tinge of yellow/green on the primaries and greater coverts. It is very hard to see, and varies with the light, but in my eyes it seems to be a good way to separate it from the other greyish one, besides the more prominent supercilium. I also discovered in my research yesterday that the bulk of Chiffchaffs in Western Europe start to migrate from the beginning of March, so it seems that the Siberian Chiffchaff will be leaving soon (especially with all this fine weather).


Moving on to the rest of my visit. 36 species again today! Last October I was only seeing 27 at every visit. I wonder what has changed?
I arrived at 7:15 and was greeted at my arrival by 2 Kingfishers along the Brook. Four Canada Geese also seen, two who arrived honking at half seven, and seem to have come from Alkrington Woods. I am glad they are sticking around. Three Great Spotted Woodpeckers seen, with a female chasing another one, and a third bird drumming (first of the year). Heard a Chaffinch or two singing: it brought back many memories of last Spring! The Kestrel is back! Just sitting on one of the high tension lines as usual. Also two very noisy Jays just downstream of Wood Lane. They weren't always doing their usual cry. Instead they were mewing at each other like Buzzards, doing a trumpet like call, and one seemed to be doing a poor imitation of a Grey heron. Not very shy at all. (Where did they come from?)

Other birds included:
2 Lesser Redpoll
2 Grey Wagtails (none like the male seen previously)
3 Jays
34 Teals
6/7 Goldcrests
1 Blue tit checking out a nestbox!

Cheers,
Paul





-- Edited by Paul Hurst on Tuesday 5th of March 2013 03:16:42 PM

-- Edited by Paul Hurst on Tuesday 5th of March 2013 04:19:36 PM

I'm not sute if this will help, but here is the image I took of the bird with no apparent injury on the 25th Feb.

Pete Hines wrote:

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Some footage of the tristis from yesterday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPVPrRbkkwM

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There is a moment at 1 min 47 secs when a second greyish Chiffchaff appears very briefly to join the tristis. The colours may appear somewhat bleached out though due to strong sunlight as it looks like it was a very sunny day when it was video'd.

Cheers, John

The original tristis present at this site certainly had no abnormalities of the feet or legs.

The Chiffchaff waters here are becoming very muddied though and ideally someone, somewhere, really needs to document the alleged 'second tristis' in image and vocal recording. I can't help feeling that its all getting rather confused (confusing) and Henry Cook rightly pointed out problems in our appreciation of colours under various situations including lighting and background, never mind those involving vocalisations (sonograms being key).

There's obviously something interesting going on here but what? Unfortunately time may be running out to find out though.

colin davies wrote:

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I saw a tristis last Monday, 25th Feb. I know it was a tristis because it looked like one, and more to the point it called like one. However, try as I might I could not see an injured foot (though I did only have binoculars with me). A question for those who saw the injured foot, how obvious was it? I watched the bird for 20 minutes at least, but it was flitting around all of the time so maybe I just didn't notice. Looking back at this thread, it appears that the injury was first noticed on 24th, yet by then the bird had been present for over 3 weeks and seen by many birders. So either the injury was insignificant enough to be overlooked for 3 weeks, or it aquired the injury at some point around 24th. Or did people see an injury before the 24th, but just didn't report it? We currently have a situation where a bird with an injured foot was heard to call like a tristis, yet others like myself saw an apparently uninjured bird also call like a tristis.

Edit: Having just watched again the excellent video by Peter Hines from the 3rd Feb, it's not obvious to me that bird in the video has an injured foot, and I can't see any orange blobs.

-- Edited by colin davies on Monday 4th of March 2013 10:16:22 PM

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John Rayner and I did not spot the injury straight away, but the orange blob was quite sizable and I first thought it was a reddish ring (My initial thought was 'What? somebody's already ringed it?'). If it was the same bird that I first found, then the orange blob is definitely new (well, dating from the 24th of Feb).
It is extremely confusing, and I'm starting to think I heard that injured bird incorrectly (though I doubt it, we were two to hear it). However, a bit more research on my side has revealed that some apparent Siberian Chiffchaffs have been recorded calling both tristis and collybita calls!

Cheers,
Paul

I saw a tristis last Monday, 25th Feb. I know it was a tristis because it looked like one, and more to the point it called like one. However, try as I might I could not see an injured foot (though I did only have binoculars with me). A question for those who saw the injured foot, how obvious was it? I watched the bird for 20 minutes at least, but it was flitting around all of the time so maybe I just didn't notice. Looking back at this thread, it appears that the injury was first noticed on 24th, yet by then the bird had been present for over 3 weeks and seen by many birders. So either the injury was insignificant enough to be overlooked for 3 weeks, or it aquired the injury at some point around 24th. Or did people see an injury before the 24th, but just didn't report it? We currently have a situation where a bird with an injured foot was heard to call like a tristis, yet others like myself saw an apparently uninjured bird also call like a tristis.

Edit: Having just watched again the excellent video by Peter Hines from the 3rd Feb, it's not obvious to me that bird in the video has an injured foot, and I can't see any orange blobs.

-- Edited by colin davies on Monday 4th of March 2013 10:32:00 PM

Cheers all for making it all perfectly clear. I'm going to spend a long morning tomorrow finding all the Chiffchaffs along the brook, and try and find as many Chiffchaffs as possible, and hopefully identify them (I doubt I'll succeed, but it will be fun). I'm especially interested in finding 'the bird with the orange blob' again, if it's still there with its blob, to take a closer look.
I raided the library and scourged the internet for any articles or books on the Chiffchaff complex, and came up with a few clarifications. Henry's second bird is not a 'fulvescens' type bird (as I suggested), since this race has the same call as tristis. It looks like it is, as Henry correctly summarised, an abietinus. (Though I'm not claiming to be an expert in any way!)



-- Edited by Paul Hurst on Monday 4th of March 2013 08:07:18 PM

When Mike Ausberger and I were there about 10 days ago we had a good close grouping of 3 Chiffchaffs, a standard collybita and 2 very similar birds including the bird with the orange blob. Without them calling it was very difficult to tell them apart, to the extent that Mike and I left them both as unassigned. The tristis was perhaps a little greyer than the other but certainly not as frosty-looking as when I saw it early in the month in strong light with standard collybitas for company.

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Monday 4th of March 2013 08:49:31 PM

Hi Paul.

The fact that the second Chiffchaff called with a typical upslur pretty much rules out it being another tristis unfortunately, but some sort of intergrade or ssp makes sense.

It's worth mentioning how much plumage colouration can change with different light conditions on some Chiffchaffs. On my first visit we saw a bird with a damaged foot. Generally speaking, the colouration that day seemed quite brown and buff, not like the particularly green and yellow collybitas present. It caused some debate but we concluded it was best left unassigned. This is quite possibly the same bird as you noted and as I saw at the weekend (although I didn't note the dodgy foot at the fairly large distance I viewed it at) but in much brighter conditions it was looking suprisingly similar in colouration to the tristis. Sorry to muddy the waters somewhat but at least it highlights the complexity of the situation. If you can hear the calls that really helps narrow the id down though.

Thanks.
Henry.

A whopping 36 species seen in just over two hours, from 12 to 2. It was getting quite intense in the last half an hour, as I searched frantically for the last few birds before I had to go home!

Waxwings quickly stole the show by trilling loudly on the Moss (the big hill near Greengate looking over the brook). At the start of the invasion, I dreamed of seeing them here as there were lots of Rowan trees about, but it looks like they turned up right at the end of Winter (though I'm not complaining). They soon flew of towards Grimshaw lane, leaving one behind. The two Canada Geese are still around. I'm used to seeing them on open lakes, so to see them on a narrow brook is a bit strange. It was also a thrush day with four different species seen (Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, and Redwing), which made my day even without the Waxwings. Also, the quantity of finches was impressive: Goldfinches and Greenfinches calling all over the place. A male Grey Wagtail was moulting into it's summer plumage, and if at the moment it looks quite scruffy, it is showing great promise. No Kingfisher seen, to my dismay, but the sighting of Henry Cook of two Kingfishers has given me hope that they could be here to stay!

Which leads us on to Henry's sighting of two tristis type Chiffchaff, one who's the real deal and the other an impostor. The fact that there are two very similar birds could explain why John Rayner and I saw a "tristis" type with some sort of boil on it's foot, while subsequent views the day after showed a "tristis" without an injured foot (if it was an injury, that is). Neadless to say I am now wondering how long there were two of them, and it's made everything more confusing. What I can't understand is what are the odds that we would find 4/5 Chiffchaffs overwintering in the same area, one of which is a Siberian Chiffchaff, and another who looks just like it? Anyway, today there were 2/3 Chiffchaffs hanging around the Alders downstream from Wood lane (their new favourite site it seems), one who was one of the grey type. The conditions in which I viewed the bird were against me, and despite my efforts, I could not work out if it was the real Siberian Chiffchaff or not, though in behaviour it was just like it. I'm going to do a bit more research tomorrow on the complexity of the Chiffchaff complex (apparently there is a fulvescens type), and in the following days try and go back and check those Chiffchaffs again (they are causing no end lot of trouble).

Anyway, the roll of highlights goes thus:
c10 Waxwings
2 Canada Geese
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
3 Mistle Thrushes
2/3 Song Thrushes
3 Siskins
1 'tristis' type Chiffchaff
1/2 Common Chiffchaffs.

What a day!

Well here's a bit more mud for the waters.

The Chiffchaff with the orange blob - still not sure if this was a real growth or something it had 'trodden in', in which case it might have worn off again.

Anyway, this Chiffchaff, which Paul Hurst and I saw at quite close quarters on 24th Feb, called a few times with a classic tristis call. Flat, clipped and monosyllabic, quiet 'cheep'. Definitely no upslurring.

Try this - to my ear it is spot on for the call of the Wince Brook tristis. http://www.xeno-canto.org/87797

Cheers, John

-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 3rd of March 2013 11:08:21 PM

02/03/2013 - 2.45-4.30pm with Phil Owen:

2 Chiffchaffs - One was 'the' tristis although elusive and mobile but it was good to hear it calling. The other closely resembled the tristis in colouration, only differentiated by having noticable buff on the flanks and a hint of orange in the legs and feet, but had a collybita/abietinus call. On plumage alone this second bird looked good enough for having an eastern origin and I was leaning towards a tristis before it called. Perhaps this bird is best left unassigned or placed in the abietinus bin as it shows intermediate features. It is worth adding that both of these birds were away from the favoured buddleia and jap.knotweed area, instead favouring downstream around the boardwalk and quite high into the trees.

2 Teals
1 Goosander
2 Kingfishers
1 Grey Wagtail
4 Goldcrests
2 Bullfinches


-- Edited by Henry Cook on Saturday 2nd of March 2013 06:58:10 PM

n
o sign of any chiffchaffs 1150 till 1320

Was there today,1200- 1315, exactly as described on the tin !!!location spot -on !!Wrens & Robins by the dozen,great views of Goldcrest,25yds upstream of buddleah in leafless tree 2 "normal" and the "sibe" within inches of each other , all sat there preening for many minuets, plenty of small flies in the warm sunshine, tomorrow is supposed to be warmer.Teal,Mallard on the river, Sparrowhawk circling above

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 27th of February 2013 05:17:37 PM

I watched the Siberian Chiffchaff for about 20 minutes this morning, first by myself and then with another birder (sorry I didn't get your name). I think it would be fair to say that we were 95% confident at the time, the only real doubt for me was that I couldn't make out a dodgy left foot, and we didn't see it with a Common Chiffchaff. However it was a very grey looking bird with a distinct supercillium, and I did see a Common Chiffchaff when I first arrived which did look a lot browner. Having returned home and looked again at Paul Hursts excellent photo in the gallery it's clear that we were looking at the right bird! Also I heard it call briefly and having listened again to the call on the Birding Frontiers blog it was the same call. An excellent bird and a great find! I managed to get one poor but clear photo of the bird.

Also today, a Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, 2 Teal, several Goldcrests and a Sparrowhawk.

A nice trip with the total of birds just touching the record of 33 species, with 32 species (just needed one more!)

The interesting sightings today were the pair of Canada Geese down on the Greengate end, a first for the site! A flock of 7 Lesser Redpolls were also seen, near the Kirkway end, only the second time I've ever seen some, so I spent a nice time recording their plumage for future reference (in case i see an Artic Redpoll). Still haven't seen the local Kestrel, though. There was a pair present all winter, and I was looking forward to see if they would spend the summer. 2 Grey Wagtails seen: I am dead chuffed about this, I am really interested to see if they would nest here this year. Also, at one part of the brook, I usually find lots of Mallards, Teals and Moorhens going about undisturbed, but today I found none (compare to New York suddenly devoid of people!), which is quite surpising.

Regarding the still present Siberian Chiffchaff, I saw it with 2 other birders, quite downstream from the Buddleia, in some alder trees over the brook (Typically where it is really, really muddy and hard to access). Unfortunately it seems to have some sort of red canker on its left ankle, which meant that when it perches, it keeps its leg up and only puts it down slowly (if it actually stoppes whizzing around). However, it doesn't seem to interfere with its feeding too much. Also heard it calling, and though I still didn't manage to record it, it does seem to fit the bill. (monosyllabic, definitely not a Common Chiffchaff's usual call, a sort of iiip). I heard my first Common Chiffchaff song of the year as well: Spring is on its way!

So notable highlights:
2 Canada Geese
1 Kingfisher (here to stay?)
7 Lesser Redpolls (First proper observation)
2 Grey Wagtails (will they breed?)
2 Common Gulls (Flying about calling over the Moss--hill near the Greengate end)
2 Siskins (with Lesser Redpolls)

All in all, a nice day with some interesting birds.

Arrived 10.30 and at once found a Chiffchaff but not the 'Siberian' - had to wait till just before 12 noon when the 'Sibe' showed well in the Buddleia. Very much a paler and greyer bird. At least 4 goldcrests rummaging around the base of the buddleia and bold singing wren. Grey Wagtail slightly further up stream on the bank a further fly past Grey Wagtail as well. There were 4 Teal with Mallard down-stream from the bridge. Plenty of other bird action which helped me forget the cold conditions. The sun made a very brief appearance allowing some reasoable photos of the Goldcrests and the Chiffchaff. But not the Siberian one! A nice mornings birding and thanks for all the threads guys.

Whilst watching the Siberian Chiffchaff I also heard it call 3 or 4 times. Clipped, flat, monosyllabic and reminiscent of a very soft House Sparrow "cheep".

Not sure what the orangey blob is just above its left foot but it could well be diseased.

Nice to meet Andy Livermore and the finder, Paul Hurst.

Cheers, John

-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 24th of February 2013 11:32:11 PM

After a two hour long bus ride and walking around middleton with no idea where wince brook was i eventually found the right area. siberian chiffchaff showing well at 3:40 flitting between the buddlhia and to the right on the roots protruding from the banking. at one point it flew on to a tree branch on the side of the banking we were stood just yards away. very grateful to another birder named Jim who lived just up the road from me for giving me a lift back. numerous goldcrest flock of redwing flying over dunnock long-tailed tits

Directions were spot on and the Buddleia was the exact spot for the Siberian Chiffchaff. What a fantastic little bird. Me and best pal sat and watched it for a good half hour.
Plenty of activity at this spot, 2 common Chiffchaff were also present, a Wren, 2 Robins, a Dunnock, family of Long Tailed Tits, and 5 Goldcrests. All within a few feet of each other, brilliant!

Almost forgot, Grey Wagtail flew under the little bridge as were going.

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 23rd of February 2013 02:40:48 PM

Siberian Chiffchaff showed in the buddleia at 3:05pm.
also seen: 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, several Longtailed Tits, Robin, Dunnock and Wren.
A Sparrowhawk flew over and a Woodcock landed briefly c50m away then flew downstream.

Definately worth the 1.6 mile drive for a"life tick"

Charles Farrell wrote:

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I hope that you are keeping a site-list Paul, it should look quite impressive!

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I am keeping one, Charles, though it is more impressive in its content than in its size! About 52 birds, based on my sightings +a few others recorded by others on this thread. And I think Bill Myerscough may have a bigger list.


Ironically, the only time I could find to visit my patch was during the week, and not at the week-end! But today I decided that I had to do some birding, so I spent a very happy two hours doing a complete visit of the Reserve, enjoying the the sun and warmth. For once my fingers were not freezing.

A total of 33 species seen today, beating my personal record of 30, though I saw no new birds. I also missed some of the regulars, like the local Kestrel, and the Grey Wagtail. The highlight was the flock of 30 Redwings flying about, and the 50 odd Magpies doing a sort of 'pre-roost feast', all gathering on the fields and feeding. Also a Kingfisher downstream of the 'Chiffchaff stretch'.
The Siberian Chiffchaff still going strong. I spotted it straight away, silent as ever, as it flickered all over the buddleia. One funny thing that struck me is the fact that there is now a well trodden path leading to the Siberian Chiffchaff, caused by the feet of many birders coming over to see it. I remember just over a month ago when there was no path at all! Also, more worryingly, I later spotted the Siberian Chiffchaff away from the brook, whizzing around some of the small trees (I think larch) a tiny bit upstream to the back, evidentely taking advantage from the abundance of insects on this warm day. It soon whizzed back to the brook, but it looks like it is getting more active than ever (fattening up for a migration?). All this means that the warmer it gets, the more it moves about, and the harder it is to find.
Spring was in the air today: Robins singing all over the place, Goldfinches and Greenfinches likewise. The Teals and Mallards were pairing up. Even the Siskins are getting together (2 today: male and female). Also a magnificent Starling in full breeding plumage, sitting in the sun. Unfortunately it seems that it is going to get colder again, which would cut short all this merry making.

List of notable birds include:
1 Siberian Chiffchaff (+1 Common Chiffchaff)
30 Redwings
50 Magpies
1 Kingfisher
1 Great spotted Woodpecker
2 Mistle Thrushes
1 Song Thrushes
1 Coal Tit
2 Jackdaws
2 Goldcrests
2 Siskins

A great day out!

Cheers
Paul

I hope that you are keeping a site-list Paul, it should look quite impressive!

steven burke wrote:

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James Walsh wrote:

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Also 2 Ravens, c10 Teal, 1 male Bullfinch, 5+ Goldcrest, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

-- Edited by James Walsh on Sunday 17th of February 2013 07:22:48 PM

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james are you not mentioning that we seen the chiffchaffs & Siberian chiffchaff also treecreeper also. thanks again for the lift.

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Forget the Siberian Chiffchaff (), there were 2 Ravens... in Middleton! I am definitely looking out for them next time I go! (talk about a different point of view...)

Wait, and a Treecreeper as well?!

James Walsh wrote:

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Also 2 Ravens, c10 Teal, 1 male Bullfinch, 5+ Goldcrest, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

-- Edited by James Walsh on Sunday 17th of February 2013 07:22:48 PM

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james are you not mentioning that we seen the chiffchaffs & Siberian chiffchaff also treecreeper also. thanks again for the lift.

Watched the Siberian Chiffchaff for some 10/15 mins this afternoon and left it still showing at around 15.30 ish.

Thanks to all those who earlier "PM'd" us with directions.

Regards,
Mike and Barb

Paul / Rob,
Thanks for the directions much appreciated. Managed to get across this morning and the spot was fairly easily found aided by the small cluster of birders staring at the buddleia. Luckily the Siberian was showing as soon as I got there and continued to do so for the next 40 mins or so. Stunning little bird and the presence of the collybita was great for comparisons.. As described by other posters the grey head and nape and overall appearance makes the 'silver streak' description spot on

Also 2 Ravens, c10 Teal, 1 male Bullfinch, 5+ Goldcrest, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

-- Edited by James Walsh on Sunday 17th of February 2013 07:22:48 PM

The bird hangs around the bridge found at the bottom of the path from Wood Lane, (just off Grimshaw lane). When you get to the bridge (green and narrow), the bird is normally just upstream of the bridge, along the narrow ledge of the brook. You can observe the bird from the small woods. It can be found along that narrow stretch, from the bridge, past its favourite buddleia hanging in the water, and hardly ever going past the brambles just a tiny bit further up the brook (from the buddleia). If it isn't there, then you are going to have to search a bit downstream, where it is harder to see. It sticks to the edge of the brook, so normally it shouldn't be to hard to find (normally)

Hope this helps, (if not, just pm me).

Cheers,
Paul

Am heading across to Middleton tomorrow to try and catch the Chiffchaff. Any directions gratefully received.

13:00 - 16:00

Chiffchaff - 2, Goldcrest in abundance and a flypast kingfisher.

16:00 to 16:15ish - the two Chiffchaff joined by the Siberian - what a frosty little belter. Mike Cooper's description of a "silver streak" was spot on!

I staked out the knotweed and buddleia area looking across the stream from the fallen tree c20 yards upstream from the bridge most of this afternoon. Turn left along the bank immediately after the bridge squeezing past the small hawthorn.

Chiffchaff fed in the low branches off and on all afternoon but the Sibe only turned up later - but there was a lot of minor disturbance from kids and a low key party in one of the houses.

Once it did appear, it showed really well.

You can park on Albany Street/Wood lane right next to the path through to the bridge and it is only 60 yards from road to its favoured location.

The area is at the bottom of thegardens of the houses on David's Farm Close but don't access from there.

Link to map

P.M.'ed you, Mike

Sorry, I mistyped; -we are visiting on Saturday, (travelling back on Sunday).

-Visiting non-birding friends in Manchester on Sunday so almost certainly won't have time to take in the Sib. Chiffchaff.
However there is always the chance of a rush of blood to the head, so any directions as to how to find this site would be greatly appreciated please.

Regards,
Mike P.

Went there today in lunch time 12:30-13:15

Saw 2normal chiffchaffs green and yellow on bank in knotweed and buddleia. Another brown and dull white/ buff then turned up and I wasn't impressed and wondered about the I'd. Then 15 mins later the silver streak arrived what a beauty gey head and nape, grey brown back and wings, yellow edged secondaries and primary panel and tail sides. Very active a distinctive, didn't
Hear it call just normal chiiffs.

well done to Paul for finding and having a local patch


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 15th of February 2013 02:39:49 PM

Siberian Chiffchaff still present at 11:40 today, just upstream of the bridge by the Buddleia as usual. Also 2 collybita (normal!) Chiffchaff and 3 Goldcrests.

Info thanks to Sonia Adderley

Popped in this afternoon for an hour 14:00 - 15:00. Siberian Chiffchaff showed well within five minutes of my arrival and continued to show on and off throughout the next hour in its usual place, although often elusive in the roots of the buddleia overhanging the brook. Conversely, the two Chiffchaffs showed really well most of the time.

Also seen - at least six hyperactive Goldcrest, four Teal, female Bullfinch and a male Sparrowhawk that flew low downstream along the brook.

12.30-1.00pm Siberian Chiffchaff showing superbly well in Japanese Knotweed and Budleia just 20m upstream from the bridge over Wince Brook from Albany Rd. With 2 Chiffchaffs for direct comparison right down at the waterline. Also:
Goldcrest 4
Wren 1
Dunnock 1
Robin 2
Long-tailed 4
Teal 3 on the brook

15.00 - 15.30

1 'tristis' Chiffchaff eventually showing well upstream (east) of Wood Lane footbridge on the Grimshaw Lane bank, with
1 'collybita' Chiffchaff for comparison.
Also:
1 Robin
1 Wren
1 Blue Tit
1 Blackbird
2 Great Tits
2 Goldcrests
4 Long-tailed Tits
24 Mallard

If you've managed to find your way here from the High Peak, Richard, nice to have your company & second opinion. Hope the footwear wasn't too soggy

Nice February bonus bird on my walk home. 24 Waxwings coming to a berry bush next to Goodbodies sandwich shop on the corner of Grimshaw Lane and Pine Street, Middleton at 15.45. The birds landed several times but were flushed each time by passing traffic and relocated to alders & poplars on the playing fields behind, near the Gabriels Terrace access
(looked for a Middleton thread but there doesn't seem to be one)

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Friday 8th of February 2013 05:31:46 PM

Simon Hitchen wrote:

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Finally why are there so many Chiffchaffs wintering in this small corner of Rochdale? Anyone got any ideas??

Cheers, Simon

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I think the valley has a microclimate which allows the Chiffchaffs to overwinter there in a good density and provides plenty of insect food, there were lots of midges out last weekend Simon.

Spent an enjoyable hour watching the 'tristis' which was associating with a 'collybita' Chiffchaff just west of the footbridge off Wood Lane this morning - a really smart bird and looks nailed on for Siberian Chiffchaff to me, although I did not hear it call. Also in the area were 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Goldcrest, Bullfinch and several Siskin.

I was really impressed with this bird - Siberian Chiffchaff must be due for a split being, to my eye, much more distinctive that the underwhelming Iberian Chiffchaff and the even less inspiring Canary Islands Chiffchaff.

Also have to say a big 'hats off' to Paul Hurst for his persistance in finding and identifying this bird - I know more than most how easy it is to miss the 'big one' on your local patch so well done Paul.

Finally why are there so many Chiffchaffs wintering in this small corner of Rochdale? Anyone got any ideas??

Cheers, Simon

Siberian Chiffchaff still hanging around this morning, though it moved down stream at one point with another Chiffchaff.

No sign tristis Chiffchaff 2.00-3.50pm
Goldcrest 3 including male with brilliantly gold crown
Wrens 3
Collybita Chiffchaff 3 or 4 none showinf tristis features or call
Nice to see Henry and Phil and others there

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 3rd of February 2013 06:39:29 PM

Good footage Pete. Quite a startling bird.

Had a look for it this afternoon with a few others, but it wasn't amongst the 4 Chiffchaffs moving up and down the brook.

Also a brazen American Mink swam downstream in full view.

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Sunday 3rd of February 2013 06:28:28 PM

3rd Feb: Wince Brook with Karen Foulkes, Rob Adderley and another guy whose name I didn't get.

Siberian Chiffchaff showing well together with 3 collybita Chiffchaffs and 2 Goldcrests at 11.00. On drift debris about 50m downstream from bridge.

Also Kingfisher, Bullfinch, Grey Wagtail, Great-spotted Woodpecker drumming

Cheers John

-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 3rd of February 2013 01:49:10 PM

Some footage of the tristis from yesterday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPVPrRbkkwM

and a Goldcrest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13622ZZpVlQ



-- Edited by Pete Hines on Sunday 3rd of February 2013 11:18:02 AM

Not being the best of twitchers, nor followers of directions I had spent 30 mins west of the spot seeing not much more than several Goldcrest and a few Mallards before bumping into Paul who helpfully pointed out the correct area. Within a few minutes the Siberian bird popped into view and then one of the ordinary chiffchaffs helpfully made itself available for comparision.

Fabulous to see such a bird on a patch that I used to visit a lot as a kid, even if it was a little on the quiet side on this occasion:

- Siberian Chiffchaff
- Chiffchaff
- 2 to 3 pr Goldcrest
- 30+ Teal on the Brook (most towards the Greengate end)
- 1 singing Song Thrush