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Wednesday 22 July 2015

Abietinus Chiffchaff confirmed in Ireland

Abietinus Chiffchaff, Ross Castle, 23rd January 2015 (photo: Barry O'Mahony).

This is the first confirmed abietinus Chiffchaff 
 for Ireland, recently confirmed by DNA sample and ringed at Ross Castle 23rd January 2015. Not what was expected as we were trying to ring the tritis Chiffchaffs that were at this site over the winter months. In the hand, this bird looked like our nominate collybita Chiffchaff, not the grey and white abietinus birds that we have all been looking for. More to follow, as a paper is in preparation for Irish Birds journal.