Warbler in Lindisfarne, Northumberland (1 Viewer)

[Alex-al]

Hello! I had a lovely bird day on Holy Island, Lindisfarne today and came across two of these tiny birds (wren sized or smaller), very plain brown back and pale front, flitting restlessly in the trees and hedges. Research suggests they were garden or reed warblers but I'm not sure which and apparently these are only in the UK in summer so I'm wondering if anyone has insight to share?

Thanks!

 

[Richard Prior]

Welcome to Birdforum Alex, your little flitters are Chiffchaff, although small they’re bigger than Wren and often the latest of the warblers to hang on into the cold weather!

 

[Alex-al]

Welcome to Birdforum Alex, your little flitters are Chiffchaff, although small they’re bigger than Wren and often the latest of the warblers to hang on into the cold weather!

Oh interesting! It was definitely smaller than chiffchaffs I've seen and I thought they normally have yellow/greenish bits whereas this was very plain brown/cream.

 

[01101001]

Did you manage to record any of their calls or would you be able to describe them from memory?

 

[Butty]

It was definitely smaller than chiffchaffs I've seen

Chiffchaffs are all essentially the same size - judging the size of a lone bird is notoriously unreliable.

 

[dantheman]

Hello! I had a lovely bird day on Holy Island, Lindisfarne today and came across two of these tiny birds (wren sized or smaller), very plain brown back and pale front, flitting restlessly in the trees and hedges. Research suggests they were garden or reed warblers but I'm not sure which and apparently these are only in the UK in summer so I'm wondering if anyone has insight to share?

Size eliminates Garden and Reed (which would be bigger than Wren or Chiffchaff).

Migrants from the east can still be coming through, and increasing numbers of Chiffchaff do overwinter in the UK, especially in the southern half. Given it is late autumn and they were on the east coast presumably migrants from further afield rather than British breeders.

They do look rather brown (other races of Chiffchaff occur, which appear different from the regular UK breeders). Is that a camera pic or zoomed in? Do you have better quality/the originals, or other pics??

And welcome to BF ;-)