Warbler (nest)

Description:

The architecture and placement of this nest points our to Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita); but I feel more comfortable leaving the ID on genus level. This nest was found on the floor, and well camouflaged by a drying cut grass and leaves. The nest presents a spherical shape, almost regularly round, some 10-11 cm across, with a large opening, about 3cm across. From outside, it was built mainly using coarser stems and leaves of grasses; while the inside chamber is more cozier, and was constructed using some younger leaves and mosses (pic No 4).

Habitat:

Found on a floor, under the hedges bordering an agricultural field adjacent to our forest. The forest is an old lowland deciduous forest, composed mainly of old oaks and old beeches. It is located in Geneva lake valley, and borders our small town.

Notes:

1. Please bear in mind that none of pictures represents the nest "in situ" - I found it totally by chance while trying to capture a hedgehog I heard under that hedge. So, the nest was on the floor, under a shrub and well camouflaged by a drying cut grass and leaves; I luckily saw it before I walked over it... I did take few shots of the nest while it was still on ground, but the light and "camouflage" made those useless.