 Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita). Male. Taken at Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon., on Apr 13th 2014. Male. Taken at Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon., on Apr 13th 2014. (1/320th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)  Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita). Juvenile. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on August 14th 2016. Juvenile. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on August 14th 2016. (1/320th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) Description L: 10 - 12 cm The Chiffchaff is a small olive-brown warbler which actively flits through trees and shrubs, with a distinctive tail-wagging movement. It is less bright than the similar Willow Warbler, and is readily distinguished by its song. It can be found in most of the British Isles in summer, excluding more mountainous areas. Some birds spend the winter in southern England, but the majority migrate southwards to the Mediterranean. Chiffchaffs breed in open woodland with tall deciduous trees and moderate scrub layer. They are usually the first warblers to arrive in spring, and are easy to spot before trees are in full leaf. There are about 1.2 million breeding territories in the UK, and between 500 and 1000 birds spend the winter here. Sightings | 24-Apr-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 21-Apr-2024 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (2) | | 17-Apr-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (h) | | 12-Apr-2024 | : | Chimney Meadows, Oxon | (h) | | 11-Apr-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (h) | | 05-Apr-2024 | : | Bagley Wood, Oxon | (1) | | 04-Apr-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (3+) | | 31-Mar-2024 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (8) | | 22-Mar-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (h) | | 19-Mar-2024 | : | Aston, Oxon | (h) | | 16-Mar-2024 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (10) | | 15-Mar-2024 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (h) | | 15-Mar-2024 | : | Bagley Wood, Oxon | (h) | | 16-Feb-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 03-Feb-2024 | : | Chimney Meadows, Oxon | (1) | | 26-Jan-2024 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (3) |
| | 23-Sep-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 16-Sep-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (2) | | 23-Aug-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 17-Aug-2023 | : | Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon | (1) | | 16-Aug-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 06-Jul-2023 | : | Ashdown, Oxon | (h) | | 26-Jun-2023 | : | Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon | (h) | | 23-Jun-2023 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (h) | | 21-Jun-2023 | : | Haddon Moor, Somerset | (h) | | 16-Jun-2023 | : | Whelford Pools, Glos | (h) | | 12-Jun-2023 | : | Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon | (h) | | 02-Jun-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (h) | | 02-Jun-2023 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (h) | | 29-May-2023 | : | Fineshade Wood, Northants | (h) | | 28-May-2023 | : | Fineshade Wood, Northants | (h) | | 27-May-2023 | : | Barnwell Country Park, Northants | (h) | | 26-May-2023 | : | Barnwell Country Park, Northants | (h) | | 26-May-2023 | : | Bucknell Wood, Northants | (h) | | 25-May-2023 | : | The Coombes, Wilts | (h) | | 24-May-2023 | : | Chimney Meadows, Oxon | (h) | | 23-May-2023 | : | The Coombes, Wilts | (1) | | 20-May-2023 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (h) | | 20-May-2023 | : | Cholsey Marsh, Oxon | (h) | | 19-May-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (h) | | 18-May-2023 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2+) | | 16-May-2023 | : | Rodborough Common, Glos | (h) | | 16-May-2023 | : | Whelford Pools, Glos | (h) | | 13-May-2023 | : | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon | (h) | | 04-May-2023 | : | Cors y Llyn NNR, Powys | (h) | | 03-May-2023 | : | Gilfach, Powys | (2) | | 30-Apr-2023 | : | The Coombes, Wilts | (h) | | 28-Apr-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1+) | | 27-Apr-2023 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (h) | | 21-Apr-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1+) |
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