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#365DaysWild, birding, birdwatching, chiffchaff subspecies, Parc Slip Nature Reserve, Siberian chiffchaff, winter walks
My friend Sharon joined me on a wild walk around Parc Slip Nature Reserve today and, though the reserve itself was very quiet, it was all action near the Centre building, because of this little beauty. This Siberian chiffchaff, a rarity that should be over-wintering somewhere in the lower Himalayas (not dissimilar to south Wales at all!), was first spotted about a week ago and, with its constant activity and absolute fearlessness of humans, it has been entertaining bird-lovers from far and wide.
earthstar 
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It must feel positively balmy down there in South Wales compared to Siberia and it’s clearly lapping up the media attention! I didn’t even know there was a Siberian Chiffchaff, did it come here deliberately or was it on its way somewhere else?
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I didn’t know there were a Siberian chiffchaff either, Theresa, but it’s a subspecies (though may be a full species – jury’s out on that) that usually breeds in Siberia and winters in the lower Himalayas. They are ‘scarce but regular migrants’ to Britain, with a few birds each year being blown off course by strong winds or storms during migration and ending up here. Some try to get to where they should be as it gets colder in Britain, a few over-winter and then presumably try to head back to Siberia in the summer.
Coming from Siberia, it’s probably had little or no contact with humans, which is why it now seems fearless of its admirers.
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Oh, what a beauty! Look at the slender legs.
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It was a gorgeous wee thing. 🙂
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