The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Baumber Park, Sunday 10th Aug.

An adult Spotted Flycatcher has taken refuge from ex hurricane 'Bertha' in my cottage garden this morning. It has taken shelter under an ash tree near to the bird feeders and making fly catching forays from the washing line!

Yesterday evening I was invited to a BBQ with friends who live near to Kelby. In their large rural garden a pair of spotflys have successfully reared a brood of fledglings and remain an annual visitor at this site often nesting in a creeper on a wall outside the office window.

Mike

Spotted Flycatchers - Four (possibly Five) Record Sightings : Woodhall Spa - Thu 14 August

Woodhall Spa delivers again.

30. Adult Spotted Flycatcher
In large open garden opposite Dower House Hotel - c. 50-75 yards in (from the road), repeatedly flycatching from a tall wooden fence separating two large gardens.
Also : (incl.)
Nuthatch x 2 (landed in an Oak Tree near me)
Treecreeper
Willowchiff (also flycatching)
Robin - 2 ads, 1 juv.
Spp Titmice (around a garden feeder).
Whilst I was watching the Flycatcher at 10.15am, an added bonus was that the 2 Lancaster Bombers flew overhead, presumably heading towards Coningsby.

31. Adult Spotted Flycatcher
Feeding from the top of a tall Pine Tree by Coronation Hall.

32. 2 Adult / 2 Juvenile Spotted Flycatchers
I called in again at Woodhall Spa Country Park where I had seen SpotFlys on 17th July and 4th August. There were 4 birds, 2 ads, 2 juvs, flycatching from the wire fence surrounding the sheepfield. Continuous action for c. half an hour before I left. Also a Willowchiff joined in.

33a. 2 Adult Spotted Flycatchers plus 1 Juvenile.
Returning to the Manor Road area, I found 2 adults perched on the bare branches of an Oak Tree feeding a juvenile.

33b. Adult Spotted Flycatcher
Whilst I was watching the adult SpotFlys feeding the juvenile (from the cut-through leading to Iddlesleigh Road), another adult SpotFly appeared quite close to me. It was flycatching from the branches of a Silver Birch. It could possibly have been SpotFly No.31 above but it may have been yet another. (?)

NB.
I think that before long a post-fledging/pre-migration group of Spotted Flycatchers will appear in the Spa Road/Manor Road area of Woodhall Spa. (In fact, I went to Woodhall Spa today thinking I might find such a group). In 2012 (19th August) Robert Carr alerted me to a large group in the gardens opposite Coronation Hall. On arrival, I counted 6 adults and 3 juveniles.

Freddy
PS.
Hugh Dorrington (Dunsby) has informed me that yesterday (Wed) an adult SpotFly was feeding a fledgling in his garden (which I last visited on Thu 7th August when the bird would have still been in the nest).

After a round at Market Rasen, I decided to have an hour at Linwood Warren. There were at least three groups of 3-4 spotted fly-catchers within a couple of hundred yards to the right of the entrance. These together in robins(2), long-tailed tits(2), wrens(2), coal-tits(2), a buzzard and a nut-hatch, all in the same area, more than made up for losing my game.
Cheers,
Patrick.

A pair of Spotted Flycatchers in Grasby have recently fledged their second brood - believed to be three.
This follows on from the first brood of four.

Roy

Following the bird in the rain reported on Sunday which has not been seen since imagine my surprise this evening, on my return home after 6pm, to find up to 3 spotflys feeding from the garden fence.

I have also been meaning to mention, for the record, that a couple of pairs have reportedly settled down to breed in Snipe Dales Country Park this season.

Further to Patrick Bell's post yesterday evening (Thu) : "There were at least three groups of 3-4 Spotted Flycatchers within a couple of hundred yards to the right of the entrance (at Linwood Warren, Market Rasen........."). I was up with the Lark this morning - or should that be up with the Spotted Flycatcher.
I was on site at 07.20 but having wandered around the area of Patrick's sightings a few times it was a case of NTR (Nothing To Report). Had the SpotFlys left overnight? Then it occurred to me that the belt of trees to the RIGHT of the entrance could well be an afternoon and evening feeding area - I should be looking for a morning feeding area.

34. Sure enough, returning to the entrance, I spotted the activity to the LEFT. It was in a cowfield (with cows!) with scattered Oak and Silver Birch. Within 15 minutes or so , I reckoned I had seen 9 or 10 Spotted Flycatchers flitting about feeding or in the regular 'autumn' rapid and twisting chasing manoeuvres. At one stage, there were 5 SpotFlys in one Oak Tree about 40 yards in from the cowfield gate- its trunk lying horizontally on the ground, thus providing excellent perches from which to swoop down over the grass to catch flying insects.
Also (incl.)
Willowchiff
Chaffinch
Spp Titmice flock (incl Long-tailed Tit)
and Great-spotted Woodpecker.

This Linwood Warren group constitutes the first recorded Lincs post-fledging/pre-migration Spotted Flycatcher group of autumn 2014. Others should be reported soon, perhaps in some of the other 'traditional' locations I mentioned in a recent post (which included 'Linwood Warren').

Many thanks for the lead, Patrick.

Freddy
PS. That makes a total of c. 20 Spotted Flycatchers within a period of 24 hours. Phew!

Pair of Spotted Flycatchers at Fillingham Cowfields - Sat 16 August

Having checked out Woodhall Spa (Thu) and Linwood Warren (Fri), I thought I would continue with Fillingham Cowfields (Gainsborough area) and Swanpool Cowfields (Lincoln) today.

On arrival at the Fillingham Cowfields at 07.50 this morning, I was confronted with a notice on the gate next to the access stile : BEWARE - BULL, COWS AND CALVES. Having visited several times in 2012, I knew that there were 5 grazing fields -one on the left of the gate and four stretching ahead. In 2012, the cattle had usually been in the field on the left or in field 4 in the distance straight ahead. There was also a bull then but a 'relatively' docile one by all accounts and which, if he sighted you in the distance, didn't come towards you looking for trouble. The question on my mind this morning was whether today's bull was still the same one.

Anyway, from the 'safe' field 1, I could check that there were no cattle in the left-hand field nor in field 2. There was Nothing To Report (NTR) re Spotflies either. Accessing field 2, I could make out :
- the cattle were in field 4 about 250 yards distant.......including a massive bull.
35. - a pair of Spotted Flycatchers were performing from the Hawthorn hedge on the far side of field 2, about 100 yards distant. It was remarkable that, even at that distance without binoculars and 'with the naked eye' (plus spectacles, admittedly), I could make out in the sunshine the gleaming white breasts of the two birds perched towards me in the hedge.

There could well have been more SpotFlys on the hedges in fields 3 and 4 but I didn't want to push my luck further. As it was, should the bull have been looking for trouble, I reckoned I could definitely make the stile in good time from where I was. Birding shouldn't have these extra pressures but, of course, it does.
Also - Green Woodpecker, calling and in flight.

I visited the (bull-less) Swanpool Cowfields (Lincoln area) on my way home to BBH but NTR re SpotFlys. I did, however, meet another birder who had seen (and photographed) an immature Redstart in the hedgerow N of the Catchwater Bridge. I didn't see the bird myself.

Freddy

I visited three Spotted Flycatcher "hotspots" today (Wed) :

a. Hubbards Hills Louth
Although I arrived at Hubbards Hills just before 8am, I don't think the flies woke up much before 8.30 when I came across :

36. 3 Spotted Flycatchers feeding together. They were only occasionally flycatching from tall trees at the far end of the grassy hillside on the left from the entrance. There were no signs of a large pre-migration group, which I had half-hoped for.

b. Baumber Church area.
I soon met up with :

37. a group of 4 or 5 Spotted Flycatchers incl. at least 1 juvenile. They were in the field just behind the churchyard towards Baumber House. It was a very active group apart from the juvenile I saw being fed on the branches of a large Horse-Chestnut Tree.
Also around were :
Whitethroat
spp Titmice
Swallows
House Martins
Robin
Chaffinch
Willowchiffs.

I also met up with Greg Roberts who lives locally and we watched the SpotFlys together. Greg informed me that there were more than just the one group around. Sure enough, on my way back to my car, I bumped
38. another group of at least 4 SpotFlys flycatching from trees along the far road bordering Baumber Farm. The 2 groups I saw could soon join up creating a larger pre-migration group.

c. Woodhall Spa
For once, the Coronation Road/Manor Road/Dower House Hotel area failed to deliver up any SpotFlys.
I moved on to the Woodhall Spa Country Park where I had seen 2 adults and 2 juveniles flycatching from the sheepfield wire-fence on 14 August. This morning there was no sign of the family group but :

39. a pair of Spotted Flycatchers were feeding in a different area nearby - from dead Silver Birches on the island in the centre of the lake and on the nearside bank. I informed the Receptionist of the location - he takes a special interest in the birds of the Park.

A successful trip with signs of a Baumber pre-migration group taking shape, following LBC reports of the Linwood Warren group on 14/15 August.
(On 15 August 2012 I went to see a pre-migration group of 7 Spotted Flycatchers at Baumber as reported by Greg Roberts and Russ Telfer.)

Freddy

( No time for Spotfly viewing yesterday afternoon - Thu : the Vulcan XH558 led the 2 Lancaster Bombers more or less over our house in BBH on their way to overfly nearby RAF Waddington and onward to RAF Metheringham, RAF Coningsby and RAF Marham in Norfolk. Great viewing in comfort. )

I visited 3 more Spotted Flycatcher "hotspots" today (Fri).

a. Linwood Warren (c.8.00 - 9.30)
There was no sign of the pre-migration group reported on 14/15 August but, after wandering around, I came across a roving Titmouse flock including Willowchiffs, Goldcrest, Chaffinch and......
40. -2 Spotted Flycatchers. It was a scene of non-stop activity, as I followed them around for c.30 minutes.
Also : Great-spotted Woodpecker.

b. Fillingham Cowfields (c.10.00 - 10.45)
The cattle (including the bull) were again in Field 4 on the very far side of the Cowfields but I thought it best to only venture as far as Field 2.
41. There was a pair of Spotted Flycatchers in the hedge in the field to the left of the entrance stile.
42. I also came across another pair of SpotFlys about 300 yards away in Field 1, flycatching from bushes and trees near the Lake. Again it was remarkable how the birds' white breasts stood out at a distance in the sunshine when the perched birds were facing me.

Swanpool Cowfields (c. 11.15 - 12.30)
Despite much searching, there was no sign of any Spotted Flycatchers although I did have good views of a Whitethroat in the hedge N of Catchwater Bridge.

Freddy

Spotted Flycatcher Bonanza at Swanpool - 24th August

Further to Andy Sims' post re a Spotted Flycatcher at Swanpool yesterday evening (Sat), I went over this afternoon hoping it was still around. I could find nothing in the usual hedge N of the Catchwater Drain bridge so I made my way to the second cowfield on the left. I saw that Andy Sims was on the far side of the field and, as I made my way towards him, I caught sight of a Spotted Flycatcher flying out from the hedge. Reaching Andy I was about to say I'd seen the reported bird when he announced that there were at least 5 Spotted Flycatchers around.

43. Sure enough, walking around the hedge lines with Andy, I was able to connect with all five, which must have arrived overnight. For me, it was a brilliant example of serendipity at work
Also :
2 Buzzards circling above
Whitethroat.

Many thanks, Andy, for the on-site guidance.

Freddy
PS......Coincidentally, on 24th August 2012 Andy reported 5 Spotted Flycatchers at Swanpool, which I later saw. They were in much the same area of hedges as today's 5 Spotted Flycatchers. Nature's calendar never ceases to amaze.

44. Re Spotted Flycatchers at Swanpool Cowfields - 26th August

Further to Andy Sims' Swanpool post today (Tue), I went over to check out the Cowfields (just c.10 minutes by car to my parking spot.) Initially, I had views of a Spotted Flycatcher and a Redstart and then met up with Andy and Chris Grimshaw who were watching the birds from a different position. Later, Chris and I had continual sightings of one Spotted Flycatcher and excellent views of the adult male Redstart perched out in the open and in flight. Although the strong wind persisted, the sun came out to brighten up the scene.

Thanks, Andy, for the lead.

Freddy

Another Visit to 3 Traditional Pre-Migration Stop-over Hotspots - Wed 27th August

a. Hubbards Hills, Louth
Arriving just after 08.30, it took me 45 minutes to track down some Spotted Flycatchers. The activity of a Titmouse group drew my attention initially and then I saw :
45. one adult SpotFly feeding near them. I soon noticed another one flycatching much lower down - catching insects over the grass. It turned out to be a juvenile. The adult made no attempt to come down to ground level and the juvenile made no effort to feed higher.

b. Baumber
There was Nothing To Report (NTR) from the 'Baumber House' area or from the field behind the Church where there had been so much SpotFly action on 20th August. However, walking around the outside of the Church, I came across :
46. a pair of Spotted Flycatchers feeding from the very tops of two tall trees at the front - the first time I have seen them there.
Also :
2 Song Thrushes.
I later met up with Greg Roberts who lives locally. He had recorded one SpotFly earlier in the day.

c. Woodhall Spa
NTR again in the Coronation Road/Manor Road/Dower House Hotel area. I drove on to Woodhall Spa Country Park. I located :
47. an adult Spotted Flycatcher feeding around the Lake island. It was flycatching over the lake surface from low Willows as well as occasionally feeding higher up.
Also ( flycatching)
Swallow
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Chaffinch
plus
Goldfinch
Robin
Group of c.20 Mistle Thrushes flew across.

No large pre-migration groups were seen today but Spotted Flycatchers seem to be moving through these three traditional areas in small numbers, whilst some may be staying for a while. Perhaps the main Woodhall Spa group has already formed and left. (In 2012 there were 9 birds on 19th August). The main Baumber group has also possibly left (I saw 8/9 birds there on 20th August).

There were at least 9 Spotted Flycatchers at Linwood Warren on 14/15 August (although I only saw 2 on 22nd August) and at least 5 at the Swanpool Cowfields on 24th August. The Fillingham Cowfields have so far peaked at 4 (22nd August) and Hubbards Hills at only 3 (20th August). Larger numbers may well appear at some of these locations in the next couple of weeks.

Freddy

Hartsholme area - Fri 29th August

a. Hartsholme Park
As I planned to visit the Swanpool Cowfields, I also checked out Les Carter's report of Spotted Flycatchers around the Black Bridge in Hartsholme Park. (28th August). There was no sign of them this morning - not unexpectedly, they must have moved on but are perhaps still in the general area of the Park.
Seen (incl.) : 2 Jays.

Swanpool Cowfields - a 3 minute drive from Hartsholme Park.
48. I found a pair of Spotted Flycatchers feeding from bushes at the far end of the second field on the left from the Catchwater Drain bridge. They could be 'remnants' from the previously reported 4/5 birds (but all of which might have left) or they could be new birds in. They were only occasionally flycatching as and when the strong breeze died down from time to time.
Also - an immature Redstart perched for once out in the open, in a sheltered position.

Freddy

Spotted Flycatchers at Linwood Warren and Fillingham Cowfields - Saturday 30th August

Linwood Warren
I arrived c. 08.00 this morning (Sat). Looking from the gate over the cattle field on the left of the entrance area, I soon noticed the signature flight pattern of feeding Spotted Flycatchers. They were performing way over towards the far right-hand side of the field.
49. Five minutes and a very wet pair of boots later, I was close enough to count 8-10......a veritable hive of activity. Another pre-migration group had indeed arrived at this traditional stop-over location and they were putting on a great display. When I last visited Linwood Warren on 22nd August, I could only find two, although c. 10 had been found on 14/15 August. (On 2nd September 2012, 8 birds were recorded and on 8th September 2012 there were 10, so today's group may well not be the last of the autumn.)

Fillingham Cowfields
On arrival at the stile leading to the cowfields, I immediately noticed half a dozen birds in Field 1 flycatching from bushes to the ground and even settling on the ground, and flying around the area. They turned out to be Yellow Wagtails. Once they had moved on towards the Lake, it soon became apparent that there were other birds also flycatching in much the same area :

50. a pair of Spotted Flycatchers.
There was nothing to report in the large field to the left. The cattle (incl. the Bull) were at the far end of Field 2, so I restricted my visit accordingly.

It's heartening to reach my 50th Spotted Flycatcher sighting of the year today. In 2012, that didn't happen until 2nd October (Gibraltar Point).

Freddy