The Lincolnshire Bird Club

On June 9th 2007, two Spotted Flycatchers were picked up dead beneath a house window at Clixby near Caistor. One of the birds carried a metal ring and I reported the details to the BTO. Today, I have received a response.

The bird was ringed on July 11th 2006 at Nettleton near Caistor by the Mid-Lincs. Ringing Group.
It was a nestling, one of three in the brood.

This means that the Spotted Flycatcher had returned to a site within 4 kilometres of where it had hatched.
Perhaps Stuart, or one of the other ringers, might like to comment on this recovery ?

Roy.

Roy,

It is not particularly unusual for summer migrants to return in successive years to their place of origin. First year birds normally return to the same general area, whilst returning adults may well return to the same tree, bush or nestbox that they nested in the previous year. We have even found Swifts subsequently nesting in the same house that they were reared in, remarkable when you consider that when a Swift leaves the nest, it heads straight off southwards and spends no time 'around the nest' like other species. It is this amazing navigational ability that small birds have, that made me become so interested in ringing birds.
Very good to hear of a returning Spotted Flycatcher though, as they seem to becoming very scarce these days.

Alan

Thanks for comments Alan.
The great shame was that the two birds should have hit the house window but these things happen.

Roy.

Further to this story, having found out that the bird was ringed at Nettleton, I phoned Kev Armstrong as I know he rings in the area.
Kev told me that he had indeed ringed this bird - the nest was in a box in his garden. He also mentioned that the same box produced another five Spotted Flycatcher chicks this year.

Roy.