Lesser Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) is one of the most commonest Sylvia warblers across much of agricultural Cheshire. The easiest way of picking them up is by the song that can only be discribed as a loud rattle completely different from any other British Warbler. This is one of the few species that migrates south east in autumn wintering south of the Sahara in eastern Africa , mostly at low altitudes in Ethiopia , Sudan and Chad . Breeding is very difficult to prove at Astbury with only one singing male heard most years , as the females don't sing it is even more difficult to prove we have a pair. End of April early May is when Lesser Whitethroat's are very vocal giving us the best chance of seeing them.