Brian Eke, Bird Control Operator, kindly invited me to RAF Waddington today (Sunday) and fitting in our Spotted Flycatcher 'hunt' periods around Brian's official duties, I spent some 4 hours on the base - complete with my official MOD pass incl. photo. It was the first extended opportunity this year that Brian had been able to devote to some Sp Fly hunting and with myself as companion it meant 2 pairs of eyes on the lookout.
RAF Waddington covers a vast area of several square miles ( the main runway is some one and a half miles long ) and there are many dozens of suitable Sp Fly territories with miles of fencing, closely cut grassy areas, isolated perching posts/signs, mature trees, etc.
In all, Brian (with some 16 years' experience at RAF Waddington as to the best places to look) and I located 5 separate breeding territories, each one with adult birds and having at least 1 fledged young (spotted) bird present and seen and up to 4 fledged young.
Further, by chance, Brian had located a 6th territory yesterday (16 July) in the pouring rain......but we drew a blank there today. Apparently in some previous years breeding territories at RAF Waddington have approached double figures and later in the week (on a day off) Brian hopes to search areas we didn't cover today.RAF Waddington is clearly the Number One known Spotted Flycatcher site in Lincolnshire and, with thanks to Brian for such an enjoyable bonanza of Sp Flys, I was privileged to join him today in the hunt for what many of us consider to be an elusive species in Lincolnshire. Fortunately, the weather stayed 'fine' for us throughout and it wasn't until I was driving home later in the afternoon ( every bit of 5 minutes from Waddington to BBH) that the heavens opened.
Freddy