Get to Know the Chiffchaff
Birdsong to listen out for this weekend
Today I’d like you to notice a bird named for their song - the chiffchaff.
I’ve tried something different this week, and recorded some audio, in which (I hope) you can hear a chiffchaff, alongside a great tit and another surprise bird who muscled in on my recording.
Although some chiffchaffs stay in the UK year-round, most are migratory, and start arriving here from Africa as early as February. Hearing the first chiffchaff of the year always gets me excited for spring, and for the warmer, longer, brighter days ahead.
If you’d like to learn more about chiffchaffs, or hear their song more clearly before heading out to find one yourself, head to this Woodland Trust article.
I bet, if you live in the UK, you’ll be able to hear a chiffchaff not too far from your home this weekend. I was away this week, and heard lots around Durham and Edinburgh, chiffchaffing away. If you hear one (or see one) please let me know in the comments!
I’d also love to know what you think about the audio format this week and if you’d like podcasts in the future, or even just audio versions of my usual newsletters.
Have a lovely, nature-filled weekend!
Zabby
Chiffchaffs are one of my favourites and I get so excited when I start hearing them in the spring. When I was freelancing in my 20s I even named my company after them - Chiffchaff Consulting 😂
Love the audio element, Zabby! Please include it as often as you like, I love it. Definitely more relatable to hear birdsong in context; I feel it might be easier for me to learn this way, rather than hearing the music in isolation. Thank you ☺️