Chiffchaff

Description:

This leaf warbler is smaller than sparrow, and olive-green above and cream-whitish to pale-yellowish below; with distinctive yellowish supercilium and dark brown legs.

Habitat:

Found on exposed rocks on a recently disfigured landscape of Lapad, a peninsular (and modern) part of Dubrovnik town. Previously, this peninsular was boasting a lush mixed Mediterranean forest descending to rocky shores close to the waterline. Today, the forest was replaced by a line of modern hotels, with patches of forest preserved and other replaced by artificial gardens. Here, a rocky wall with a protective wire-net in between these ugly structures.

Notes:

1. Somewhat unusual find for a winter season on Adriatic coast, as Chiffchaff, like most of Leaf warblers, is migratory bird wintering in Africa. However, some populations are known to remain permanently in their habitats, and this phenomenon is apparently increasing in recent years with climate change. 2. I'm aware that the two last pics are of low quality, but I'm including them here as they did help with the final ID.