The Lincolnshire Bird Club

I checked out 2 sites today (Sun) :

1. Doddington Hall Gardens area (traditional site where they have been present for a number of summers) :

Spotted Flycatcher feeding, and also visiting a Walnut tree where SpotFlys nested last year. ( I also watched one there on 27th May - my 1st SpotFly of 2012).

2. Building in Fulbeck off the A607 (many thanks to David Morison for the info) :

A SpotFly sat on its nest above a pair of steel doors, seemingly oblivious to people coming and going close by.

Great to renew my acquaintance with this species after an absence of c.8 months.

Freddy

I checked out the Hatcliffe site today no sighn of any spotted flycatchers but I will go back in a couple of weeks and hopefully they will be present.

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http://anthonybentleywildlifephotography.blogspot.com/

UK life list 310 (Harlequin Duck)
Lincolnshire List 246 (Puffin)
Village (Brigsley) list 99 (Shelduck)

Thanks Anthony

There is at least 1 pair (possibly 3 birds seen) in Willingham by Stow church grounds and 1 bird, possibly pair in a village garden.

Good to see them back.

There have been few reports of Spotted Flycatchers in Lincs on the web so far this year, not yet reaching double figures :

11 May....Manby Flashes
14 May....Linwood Warren
16 May....Dunsby
27 May....Doddington Hall Gardens area
29 May....Riseholme College, Lincoln
10 June...Fulbeck (nesting confirmed)
11 June...Willingham by Stow

I have recently revisited at least an additional half a dozen 2011 sites without success. Of course, the wet and windy weather hasn't helped.

Have members had confirmation of nesting of any of the above as listed, or have additional reports?

Freddy

"Spotted" a pair at the golf club (Laceby) this morning, very active and frequently disappearing into ivy.
Suspect nesting as they have here before, but didn't look too closely as I didn't want to risk disturbing them.
I will keep an eye out for fledgelings to confirm nesting.
Cheers,
Patrick.

I didn't see any at Willingham by Stow Church today but I did find two at Spridlington Church.

Russell

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http://birdmanbirds.blogspot.com/

Andrew Vaughan and myself looked for some in Long Sutton Churchyard last weekend with no luck

Russell and Chris,
To ease your disappointment at dipping out at churchyards, between mid-May and late July last year, I visited 34 different Lincolnshire churchyards (plus some revisits) searching for Spotted Flycatchers. The only successful churchyard visit was to Willingham by Stow on my 4th visit there on 21st June.......out of a total of 43 successful records in 2011; and yet churchyards seem ideal habitats for SpotFlys. Like a gambler, I knew the 'next churchyard' would definitely deliver.....dream on !

So far this year, and further to Ian Smith's post of 11 June, amongst others I've revisited Willingham by Stow churchyard (and area) twice.....but without success.

However, great to read that your Spridlington churchyard visit was successful, Russell, bucking the 2011 trend : take a bow.

Freddy

Just a thought, Freddy etc. - with all this effort at looking for Spotted Flycatcher nests, is anyone submitting their findings to the BTO Nest Record Scheme? Anyone can take part and details of what is required can be found on their website, www.bto.org under the Volunteer Survey section.

Freddy.
Did a search on saturday at RAF Waddington - no success at all. Will try this sunday.
Brian.

None seen at Doddington in a 1 hour stay on 15th.
Today 1 at Willingham church and 1 at Spridlington church. Neither was easy.
Cheers. Rick with Andy Sims

Spotted Flycatchers at Spridlington and Fulletby -19 June.

I must NEVER again say 'NEVER' regarding Spotted Flycatchers and churchyards after 2 records today in that very habitat.

1. Spridlington Churchyard
-further to Russell Hayes' post of 18 June, I visited Spridlington Churchyard today arriving early at 08.00. (I had a full morning ahead of me and the Duchess of Fife needed the car early afternoon for going to a Pilates class !) After walking around the outside of the Church a few times for half an hour or so, I eventually caught sight of a SpotFly in a private garden along a Hydrangea-covered wall to the right of the entrance gate to the Church. A little later the bird appeared well to the left of the gate on a lichen-covered gravestone, allowing close views. I left c.08.45 to travel on to :

2.Market Stainton Village Green, a successful 2011 stakeout. However, the tree cavity used as a nesting site last year was empty and there were no signs of Spotfly in the area, including the Churchyard and the Hall (still being renovated).

3.Fulletby
....where last year Mark Bibby showed me young in a wall cavity near his house. Today, I very soon located a SpotFly feeding in an open garden area behind the Church. Further, it visited a particular spot in an ancient Ivy-covered Scots Pine by the boundary wall IN THE CHURCHYARD several times where its nest was presumably located.

4. Edlington Hall/Edlington Churchyard

I called in at this successful 2011 stakeout on my way back to BBH but there were no SpotFlys around.

So, 2 successful visits in the morning.....both involving churchyards.

Freddy

Rick,
Sorry about your lack of success at the Doddington stakeout. I have waited there up to an hour or so for a sighting.....there is a lot of foliage in the way of clear viewing and the bird may well sit around inactive for long periods.....no young to feed as yet.

A coincidence that you and Andy should also be visiting Spridlington Churchyard today. It took me over half an hour before I had my first sighting, and that was in the neighbouring garden to the right of the Church as you enter the Churchyard. I then had close views of the SpotFly on a gravestone well to the left of the entrance.

I've missed out on the Willingham by Stow birds twice so far this year. Did you get the SpotFly on the gravestones or in the trees ?

Freddy
General Note : I've put the above on the LBC Reports site rather than as a pm as it contains info of specific interest to other members who may try for the birds.

Freddy,

The Spotted Flycatcher at Willingham by Stow was in the top of a tall, dead tree in the southwest corner of the churchyard.

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Regards,

Andy.

One in the yard of the redundant Trinity Church East Street Horncastle this lunchtime.