Spaniard by the Sea - Blackpool - 4th May 2011

You can't stop in this game! No sooner had I got home from the Kentish Plover, I got a text that confirmed an Iberian Chiffchaff singing at Devonshire Road Rock gardens in Blackpool. Sadly, my Dad needed his car, so I was without my own transport. I got the bus into Preston and then got a train to Layton where it was only a short walk to the gardens.
Arriving at 13.45, It was literally a minute before I heard the bird singing for the first time. It was in the North East corner, in the trees next to the play area. I did my best to get some rushed photos of the bird, but sadly the one below is the best I could manage of this very mobile bird!
Soon after this, the bird relocated along the eastern line of trees about 75 meters along the tree line, still singing. An assembled group of Fylde/Lancs birders listened to the bird a few times before it seemed to shut up. A Chiffchaff appeared that appeared long winged, long billed and fairly bright faced, however the general concensus was that this was just a 'normal' Chiffchaff. A couple of birders and I however, disagree and say that (the photos below) the bird was infact the ibericus. The bird was heard to do a couple of 'odd' calls resembling a 'tseep' and a strange trill. I have never heard either of these calls coming from collybita. The select few birders who didn't give up on this bird watched it for a prolonged time observing long wings, long bill (with a pale lower mandible), a bright face with a prominent supercillium, a lemon coloured throat contrasting with a 'white' belly. The flanks and undertail coverts were also very yellowy with a bright green rump. Personally, I think this was the same bird




I would love to know everyones opinions of the 'second' bird, but it was lovely to see and hear an Iberian Chiffchaff in Lancashire.