Chiffchaffs are returning from their winter sojourn around the Mediterranean. One suddenly hears them singing in the treetops, and one instantly feels that spring, in one delightful respect, is back. Their name echoes their song, a steadily repeated “chiff, chaff, chiff, chaff”, though it actually has a more metallic ring than the transliteration suggests — a very cheerful sound. They are small, olive-brown birds and are lively in the bare branches, fluttering about to pick up flies while still singing. A closely related species, the willow warbler, is also appearing in ones and twos, but the main body of these will not arrive till April. Willow warblers are similar to chiffchaffs but a shade greener, and are more likely to be found in small trees