The Lincolnshire Bird Club

As we come to the end of another Spotted Flycatcher 'season' and having thought more about the groups which occur in Lincolnshire in the late summer, I have now revised my ideas about these assemblages at various sites in the county and separated them into two distinct groups. Comments from interested members would be most welcome.

This summer we have had 6 confirmed group sites reported on the LBC web, with a probable 7th (see Dunsby). The following data could be of use in future years :

a. Inland Post-breeding/Pre-migration
(locally bred family groups coming together at one local site in a previous/current breeding area; later, 'remnants' remaining or a few extra local birds passing through).

1. Hubbard's Hills, LOUTH
(Geoff Williams (GW); Freddy Johnson (FJ))
Maximum: 16+-23 Aug (GW)
23 Aug-7 (FJ)
02 Sep- 2 (FJ)
18 Sep-6 (GW)
18 Sep-3 (FJ)
19 Sep-4 (GW)
22 Sep-3 (FJ)

2. Linwood Warren, MARKET RASEN....9 reported 04 Sep 2010; 10+ reported 31 Aug 2011
(Stuart Britton (SB); Aidan Turner (AT); (FJ)
Maximum:10+- 08 Sep (FJ)
02 Sep-8 (FJ)
04 Sep-4 (AT)
11 Sep-5+ (SB)

3. Woodhall Spa, Coronation Hall area...group also reported 2011 with several breeding pairs locally
(Robert Carr (RC); (FJ))
Maximum:9-19 Aug (FJ)
19 Aug 6 (RC)

4.Baumber (between WRAGBY and HORNCASTLE) - Churchyard/"Baumber House" area
(Mike Harrison (MH); Greg Roberts (GR); Russ Telfer (RT); (FJ))
Maximum:8-14 Aug (RT)
28 Jul 6+ (GR) (MH)
11 Aug-6+ (MH)
15 Aug-7 (FJ)
23 Aug-3 (GR)
02 Sep-3 (GR)
08 Sep 1 (GR)

(Have groups been seen in any of the above locations in previous years, except where noted?)

5. Dunsby (near BOURNE)...the village has regularly had 3 or 4 breeding pairs over recent years)

Hugh Dorrington discovered 3 pairs of Spotted Flycatchers breeding in Dunsby this year (all nests kindly shown to me), with one pair raising a 1st brood in a garden neighbouring Hugh's and a 2nd brood on a house wall across the road. On 30th August, Hugh found a group of Spotted Flycatchers in the trees in his garden "at least 5 with at least i juvenile". Others could well have been perched unseen in the tree-tops.

(8 birds were reported in Ancaster on 31st August 2008. Does any member have additional location details?)

b. Inland Migration Stopovers. (Birds having bred outside the reported area and arriving on an early migration leg; no historical/current breeding records in the immediate area).

1. Fillingham Cowfields (N of LINCOLN)
(Dean Nicholson (DN); (FJ)
Maximum:10+-28 Aug (DN)
24 Aug-7+ (DN)
31 Aug-7 (FJ)
02 Sep-4 (DN) (FJ)
05 Sep-6 (FJ)
07 Sep-7 (FJ)

2. Swanpool Cowfields, LINCOLN -Andy Sims has had regular records over the years with 9 on 22 Aug 2008
(Andy Sims (AS); Russell Hayes (RH); (FJ)
Maximum: 6; 26 Aug (FJ)
21 Aug-1 (AS)
24 Aug- 5 (AS and FJ)
25 Aug-5 (RH)
30 Aug-2 (AS).

What particularly intrigues me about the post-breeding/pre-migration birds is the trigger that sets in motion the coming together of previously distinct and separate family groups and their joining up in, presumably, "traditional" assembly sites in Lincolnshire such as Linwood Warren where eg., 10+ were reported on 8 Sep this year, 10+ on 31 Aug 2011 and 9 on 4 Sep 2010. .....all in the same relatively small area of the Warren, not far from the entrance. The timing can be quite precise....one day, "no Spotted Flycatchers to report"....the next day, "perhaps a double figure to report".

After its arrival in late spring, and throughout the summer, the Spotted Flycatcher is considered to be a solitary bird (apart from its mate). On its wintering grounds eg., in southern Africa, Roberts states in his regional study, "Birds of South Africa", that the Spotted Flycatcher is usually solitary in the sites the birds use year after year. Yet for a period after the young have fledged, local family groups can flock together (up to 20 birds have been reported), when I have occasionally seen them put on a fine interactive aerial show including much chasing, now clearly enjoying company and close proximity as they feed up.....a surprising change from loner to active flock member and then after migration back to loner. What could lie behind this unusual passerine pattern of behaviour in late summer? I assume it is all about ensuring that 'flock dynamics' are being honed and put in place so as to survive the daunting and traumatic 'long-haul' migration journey ahead as a group, especially once they set off for Africa with the older birds instilling into the juveniles confidence and a sense of safety, plus confirming the route directions to the wintering area, I am reminded to a certain extent of Stone Curlews, which after a 'separated' breeding season with its attendant territorial rivalries, also have the habit of flocking in the late summer in post-breeding/pre-migration groups before leaving for Africa.

Freddy