The chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) is one of several warbler species that migrate to us from Africa in spring for the breeding season and then head back south again in early autumn. I always reckoned to hear my first chiffchaff on, or about, the 15th March each year. They do start arriving a little earlier than that and are almost certainly the first warbler one will encounter in spring.
Although here in Britain for several months during the breeding season they seem to disappear from mid-May through until early August. I suspect there are two reasons. Firstly, once established on territory with a mate their distinctive 'chiff-chaff' call tends to stop as they set about the serious business of raising a family.
The second reason could be that they become less visible once the leaves come out on the trees. Strangely, once nesting is over they start singing again.
Very similar to the willow warbler they are difficult to tell apart just by appearance. It is the song that is so different from the willow warbler and that is key.
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