22nd & 23rd February 2014

Headed over to Alrewas Pits,Staffs for another look at the Sibe Chiffchaffs (2 birds present last visit but mostly silent) The 1 Showy bird was still present,however it's call certainly resembled Collybita but only called briefly on the Saturday so decided to head back on the Sunday where the bird constantly called for the 2+ hours I spent on site & was calling as Collybita (So unless anyone with more experience on these difficult subs has a reasonable explanation then surely it's a Collybita?) Just goes to prove though that not all pale birds should be treated as Siberian............

For a detailed analysis please read Alan Deans comment in the comments section (Many thanks to Alan for this detailed response)

8th - 15th February 2014

Spent a week up in the Highlands with Dean Eades,Russ Telfer & Alicia Handford with some good birds seen not all photographed but a fantastic week,some of the highlights below including the American Coot at Loch Flemington,Inverness which was a lifer............

More Photos On My Website

2nd February 2014

Spent a cpl of hours again at Hams Hall,Warks where the Hume's was again elusive but gave good brief views & was calling regularly in the morning & also picked up Sibe Chiffchaff which was calling (Unlike the self-proclaimed expert who keeps calling Sibes even when it's just a pale nominate "Yes JH you do get pale nominate" ) So both plumage & call is still the most reliable!! (But I did hear the visiting Sibes are picking up the local dialect so they fit in better!! ) Anyway Tom Perrins turned up & as the bird wasn't playing ball he promised me a showy Sibe Chiffchaff up the road in Staffs at Alrewas pits/sewage works also Smew & LT Duck so off we went!! Picked up all the birds with ease & we also found a 2nd Sibe Chiffchaff (Both calling but Tristis call only heard when both birds were in the same vicinity) & had rather good views!! So cheers Tom..........

More Photos Here

1st February 2014

Back at Hams Hall again this morning for some pics of the Hume's Leaf Warbler which despite having spent over 20 hrs on site over the last week has been elusive with today being no different at 1 point it hadn't been seen or heard for nearly 4hrs! Anyway enough talking cpl of shots below..............