Two weeks ago I heard my first Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) of the year. Have you heard one yet?

It’s hard to describe how I felt hearing that sound, but I will try. If you’re not used to listening to bird song or following the seasons it might not be an experience you’ve had yet.

Work has been rather busy in the Easter Ross area this year, so I’ve barely had a chance to stop and enjoy the local wildlife, but it was whilst I was filling my van with bags of rubbish one Saturday (I’d just finished up working on the “Spring Clean” in Dingwall) that I heard it. I had to hear it a few more times before I believed it, the chiff chaff, chiff chaff song that gives this tiny warbler it’s name.

What had been a moment of doing an unthinking task turned in to something different. I was woken up by the sound, and reminded that Spring was here, it was happening right now. I was filled with happiness as I thought of all the warm days rich with birdsong ahead. And I was proud. This little bird had returned from it’s winter in Southern Europe or North Africa (although we do have some resident Chiffchaffs the vast majority are migratory) a journey of thousands of miles for a species no bigger than your average garden bird. This little guy had made it though harsh weather, and a continent of predators and he was announcing it to the world. I was glad to listen and silently welcomed him back.

It was a brief connection with a world other than my own little sphere, a reminder that we all have challenges, luckily for me, mine don’t involve putting my life on the line to such a great extent! And we can expect more firsts to come, the first Swallow, the first Swift, the first bumblebees and butterflies…

This study of recurring seasonal events is called Phenology and it’s becoming an ever more important aspect of our understanding of climate change and it’s impacts. Changes in the timings of when things happen in nature can have a massive effect on an entire ecosystem, so it’s more important than ever that we start noticing what the world around us is doing.

Who have you missed most over the winter? And have you had your first returns of the season yet?

If you want to share some records or have a look at species that have been recorded arriving in your area you can join the Woodland Trusts Nature Calendar. It tells me that the first Chiffchaff of 2025 was recorded in January in the South of England, with the first records in Scotland beginning in late February/early March in the central belt. The first record in Highland was mid March and there have been no more since. Last year there were none recorded on the map in North Scotland that certainly was not the case! The more people we have recording the more information we have, and the better prepared we can be for things to come.

Natures Calandar

Marcia O'Hara is High Life Highland's dedicated Countryside Ranger for Easter Ross and South East Sutherland. She infuses her love for nature into every aspect of her work, from community clean-ups to guided events and workshops. With an academic foundation in Environmental Biology, Marcia excels in bringing fresh perspectives to her sessions, making science come alive in community learning. Known for her ability to engage and inspire, Marcia has a special interest in woodland botanics, including fungi, lichen, and trees. Her unique approach and deep connection to nature have made her an invaluable asset in preserving the natural beauty of the region she covers.

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