Some amazing news came out on the birding network on Thursday 23rd February, that a Pallas’s Warbler had been discovered at the Nottinghamshire Attenborough Reserve. It was favouring hedgerows, gardens and the Bushes in the Hotel grounds along Barton Lane. An amazing find, especially this far inland, and at this time of the year.
Also a Siberian Chiffchaff (tristis) showed in the nearby hedges, along with a few Common Chiffchaff.
I can remember the late Martin Garner telling me that one of the best ID features of Siberian Chiffchaff are the “tobacco” coloured ear coverts. How right he was, except on this scruffy individual, they were difficult to pick out. Apparently tristis Chiffchaffs moult at a different time of the year to Common Chiffchaff. This is why this bird looks so scruffy, due to its moult, whereas the Common Chiffies were looking so smart.
