Chiffchaff Arrivals

Fontenille, as its name suggests, is quite a watery place with its springs and three lavoirs . La Lavoire Basse in particular is a good spot to look out for passerines at any time of year and yesterday its hedges and bushes were busy with feeding chiffchaffs. This rather nondescript warbler overwinters with us in small numbers but it is primarily a summer migrant and the twenty to thirty individuals that were down there were surely recent arrivals. Several of them were singing as was a blackcap (the first I've heard this year); he could have been a migrant also but was more likely an individual who has spent the winter in this sheltered spot.
Other interesting birds there were several reed buntings, a female hawfinch and a Cetti's warbler which was calling from a little further downstream.
Cowslips and celandine were in flower helping to give the place a Spring-like feel.