This afternoon ('2.30pm'), Stuart Britton put some information on my "Swanpool - 30 August post" (as updated 31 August) :
" Freddy - 3 Spotted Flycatchers by the Memorial at Linwood Warren this morning ".
I am SO pleased that I took time out from my hectic schedule as a Saga Pensioner
to follow up Stuart's gen. I arrived at Linwood Warren at c.4.45pm and took up a position on a grassy knoll by some Heather clumps to scan the Pine Trees by the Memorial. Almost immediately, I could see that no fewer than 4 Spotted Flycatchers were in the Pines, occasionally feeding, occasionally 'playing tag' as per the birds Robert Carr and I saw in Woodhall Spa on 9th August, dashing around amongst the branches. As I was watching them in front of me, movements caught my eye in the Birches well to my right - another 4 Spot Flys (possibly 5) were performing there too, and no birds had crossed the gap between the Pines and the Birches (or vice-versa). To compound my amazement, 2 further birds were then noticed in the Pines well to my left BUT it is possible (though unlikely) they were from the original Pine Trees 4 in front of me.
So that made 8 Spot Flys, probably 10 and even possibly 11. I had double-checked each movement in the branches to make sure I was looking at Spot Flys (although most of them were flycatching anyway on/off) as there were also some Goldfinches,spp Tits and a Treecreeper around, so I am absolutely certain of the figure 8 and veer happily to a higher number. So clearly, a number of Spot Flys had flown in since this morning's report of 3. At one stage all the Spot Flys seemed to be in the Pines, and at another all seemed to congregate in the Birches.
I was very pleased with my 1 Spot Fly at Swanpool earlier this morning but you can imagine how I felt with 8, probably 10, possibly 11........ I do recall reading of previous autumn concentrations of Spot Flys at Linwood Warren. I am SO pleased I followed up Stuart's report........ Thank you, Stuart...
Freddy
