The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Having spent Thursday 9th July in South Lincs, I thought I'd follow up some Spotted Flycatcher leads in Central and North Lincs today (Saturday) and also re-visit some previous years' sites to check on returning birds :

Tealby area (near Market Rasen).
Nothing to Report (NTR) from the previous sites of the Tealby Churchyard area or of Tealby 'The King's Head' Beer Garden......although I did connect with a 'Pedigree' at the latter.

17. Yorkshire Electricity Board (YEB) Compound on the Tealby B1203 out of Market Rasen just past the turning to Walesby, on the left-hand side (further to Phillip Harland's post of 7 July). One, possibly two, Spotflys seen flycatching at the very far end of the Compound. The continuous, closely-spaced boundary metal fence spikes made clear viewing a little difficult. Thanks very much for the lead, Phillip.

Swinhope Lane, Swinhope
18. Garden area of 'The Old Rectory' opposite the C13/C14 Parish Church. A pair of SpotFlys were flycatching from trees at the edge of the garden and along an exterior ride of mown grass. NB. - the old Parish Church is a 'must visit'.

19.Graveyard of St. Nicholas' Church, Grainsby. (further to Josh Forrester's post of 10 July). Having parked at the far end of the Churchyard, the first bird I saw was an adult Spotfly on a nearby gravestone. It made repeated forays from the same spot before flying up into some trees. A second bird was seen later but I didn't catch sight of the reported juveniles. Thanks very much for the lead, Josh.

20. Laceby Golf Club (near Grimsby), Green-Keepers' Cabin/Equipment Storage Yard. A pair of SpotFlys soon showed, flycatching from the branches of tall mature trees, (as per my 29 July 14 visit, after having been originally reported by LBC member Patrick Bell).

Freddy

While leading a nature walk at Woodhall Country Park this morning we found an adult spotted flycatcher feeding a young one, not far from last year's nest site. They had eluded me there until now.

John

That's interesting news. I had a good look around what I assume is the same nesting area about a week ago and failed to locate any SpotFlys.

Freddy

The birds were in the trees north of the path leading to the wooden bridge and showed well. I don't know how we missed them earlier as this was my second nature walk there and I think my fifth site visit altogether this year, so they were a very gratifying surprise.

John

Many thanks for the info, John.

Freddy

Wed July 15th : Woodhall Spa, Anwick and Newton

Re : Spotted Flycatchers

A. Unsuccessful (You win some, you lose some)
(1). Woodhall Spa Country Park
Further to John Watt's posts of July 11th/12th, I decided to visit Woodhall Spa Country Park again for the SpotFlys......but without success. I searched the area for some time. There were plenty of distraction birds flitting around, some of them even flycatching : Chaffinch, Willowchiff, Whitethroat, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Robin. A vociferous male Green Woodpecker landed closeby. John's SpotFlys will have moved on but could well return if still in the general area.

(2). Anwick Churchyard (off A153 en route to Newton)
SpotFlys have nested in the past in the general Churchyard area but NTR from my visit this morning other than a Sparrowhawk being mobbed by House Martins.

B. Successful
While in Woodhall Spa I also visited the Coronation Hall area on Spa Road.
21. A SpotFly was flycatching from the very top of a tall Fir to the side of the Hall. I have seen one in previous years flycatching from that same vantage point.

I drove on via Sleaford to Newton (off A52) to check out Ian Misselbrook's post of Sun July 12th. "The Red Lion" is an attractive village pub, both inside and outside. The publican must have spotted me with my binoculars wandering around the 'garden area' and he came out to speak to me. He knew all about the reported SpotFlys and he showed me where the nest was in a Pyracantha bush about 9 feet up and not far from the entrance door.
22. I was able to sit at a garden table and enjoy a welcome glass of Black Sheep while watching the male SpotFly come and go nearby. From the lack of frequency of his visits to the nest site, I assumed the female was brooding eggs in the nest.

Thanks for the lead, Ian. I assume SpotFlys have again not been seen around in Rippingale this year. Dunsby gets all the glory. (Shame about "The Bull" closing down - I believe it's up for sale).

Freddy

Further to Freddie's post.



I saw an adult today in the Edenham church yard that was quite vocal flitting between the trees and grave stones attempting to dissuade a ginger cat from coming any closer to it's territory; the cat paid it no attention.

Russell

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http://birdmanbirds.blogspot.com/

Thu 16th July : Rase Lane Market Rasen

Further to Dave Worrell's post of Sun 12th July, I was going to check out the Rase Lane Spotted Flycatchers on Saturday. I then discovered there will be a big race day in Market Rasen on Saturday with large crowds expected for the Betfred Summer Plate, no less. So I went this afternoon.

The garden area of the Old Telephone Exchange in Rase Lane is not the easiest stake-out to monitor binocular-wise for it now appears to be a private residence, right next to other private residences. After an uneasy 15 minutes, I decided to go into the nearby Rase Park/Cricket Ground - an excellent decision.

23. The River Rase runs 100 yards or so inside the Park (on the Left). There were 2 very active SpotFlys (possibly 3) flycatching from bushes and trees along the river (to the left) and from a very tall Weeping Willow in the rear garden of the house next to the Old Telephone Exchange. Thanks for the lead, Dave.

I also checked out 2 other Market Rasen sites where SpotFlys have been active in the past :
- Willingham Woods Car Park area (off A 631), especially around the bridge area
- Linwood Warren Nature Reserve entrance area,........but for both sites it was NTR.

Back home in BBH in time for some good TV golf and cricket updates.

Freddy

Horncastle, 2.30pm Friday

Collected prescription from the Medical Centre this afternoon on Spilsby Road. I popped around next door to the Trinity Centre to try and locate a Spotfly. No luck there but as it was a bit breezy found two flycatching in a clearing at the back of the Surgery amongst the trees.
The Medical Centre was formally an Old Rectory and Vicarage gardens were always a good bet for a pair of Flycatchers. Had a good look around Banovallum House grounds last weekend hoping to find some, however, NTR!

Message from Chris Collyer

Spot Flys – A pair of birds were feeding around the horse paddock next to the track that leads to Walesby Moor Caravan Park Market Rasen on 08/06/15 but have not been seen since on subsequent visits.

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Andrew Chick
Website: http://www.forktail.co.uk/

July 21st - Woodhall Spa and Horncastle

24. On the way to Horncastle, I visited Woodhall Country Park again this afternoon and it was third time lucky for me : I recorded a Spotted Flycatcher in the same belt of trees as in John Watt's post of 11th July but some 200 yards nearer the main road. It occasionally disappeared into deep foliage but I didn't catch sight of the reported juvenile.

Also - Great-spotted Woodpecker and Mistle Thrush.

I immediately saw the pair of SpotFlys ( previously reported by me on 5th July : Serial 11 ) on my arrival at the Trinity Centre in Horncastle. From the flurry of activity they were clearly feeding young birds. I had good views of one juvenile being fed out in the open in the tall Scots Pine just to the left of the Centre building (as seen from the road).

Further to Mike Harrison's post of Fri 17th July, I visited the grounds of the Medical Centre next door to the Trinity Centre. I did a couple of very slow complete circuits of the building but failed to see any SpotFlys.......disappointing especially, as Mike indicated, the site would be ideal for nesting and he had good views of a pair. Unless the parent birds are feeding young in the nest or juveniles in the immediate area it can often be hard work and difficult catching up with reported Spotflys. Waiting around for half an hour or even longer is not uncommon; sometimes one is lucky, sometimes not - even though the birds are in the general area. SpotFlys with no young birds to feed can 'sit still' for ages. The one saving grace is that, if the bird is on an outer branch and facing you, you can often pick up the white breast even with the naked eye, from well over 50 yards. I managed to do it at c100 yards at Fillingham Cowfields one autumn. If the female is on eggs she leaves the nest to feed and re-enters it at speed : blink and you will miss her; the male will perch inconspicuously near the nest but does not share incubation duties.

Freddy

While at a meeting at Edenham Vicarage/Regional House today had up to 4 Spotted a Flycatchers in the garden. Definitely 2 adults, so presume 2juvs as well.

Andrew

Sat 25th July - Wellingore (on A607) S of Lincoln and Brampton

I revisited the Church area and the grounds of Wellingore Hall where Spotted Flycatchers have nested in recent years. The vast Wellingore Hall (next to All Saints' Church) was the 18th century home of the Neviles who abandoned their ancestral home of Aubourn Hall (built c.1600), although the family returned to Aubourn after the Second World War. Wellingore Hall is now offices and apartments.
.....but NTR re Spotflys.

Brampton (S of Gainsborough) off the A158.

25. A revisit to Brampton. I came across a SpotFly, initially perched near the top of a Cherry Tree in a large garden at the far end of Brampton (a favourite village of SpotFlys). Gathering heavy cloud severely curtailed its feeding activity.

Freddy

Sat 25th July. Baumber

Reported by Stuart Pickles from St Swithins churchyard this afternoon, at least one family group of Spotflys but possibly more with 2 adult and 3 juvs seen, but others heard calling from the trees.

The St Helens churchyard, Willingham adults have been feeding 2 young birds for the past week. This morning I have a juv. feeding independently in my garden.