Dear Blogger
Message from David Shearan
Two birds for the price of one in the continuing story of the birds on the Cliffe. These two species are so similar that these photos might show two Willow Warblers, two Chiffchaffs, or one of each. They are both summer migrants and should appear on the Cliffe any day soon having flown in from Africa or even Siberia (over 12,000Km). Amazingly they can weigh as little as 9g by the time they arrive on our shores. You would have to be quite expert to distinguish these birds by appearance alone but there's no mistaking their songs. The Chiffchaff sings its own name "chiff, chaff, chiff, chaff" whereas the Willow Warbler has a short and sweet descending song, described by some whimsical folk as like a 'fairy waterfall'. Both of these amazing birds nest either on the ground or very low down. Just think how far they have come just to be with us. Surely it's only fair that we do what we can to protect them while they are here? The protected breeding season is from the end of March to the beginning of August, just four months. If you walk dogs on the Cliffe can you compromise for four months out of twelve and keep your dogs on a short lead? David
