25th/26th March 2017

Was in Hampshire/Wiltshire yesterday when news broke of an iberian chiff at Yate in Glouc, a species I've been keen to connect with after not being able to go for multiple birds last year. On the drive over, I had 3 Red Kites, 2 near Thruxton and another somewhere in Wiltshire.

I arrived just after 3pm. There were several chiffchaffs moving about including one striking individual, showing bright yellow and white to the underparts. Sadly, I didn't see it again in the next few hours, neither did I hear any song.

Woke up this morning and saw it was still present, so made another trip up. Arrived at about 11:15, and I could immediately hear the bird singing. After a short while, I managed to get onto the IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF through the thick vegetation, and in the next hour we had good, if a bit obscured, views of the bird singing. It certainly seems that a morning visit gives the best chance with this bird.

IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF - Yate