The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Wed 3rd September

Swanpool Cowfields, Fillingham Cowfields and Linwood Warren (Cowfields)

Visits to 3 SpotFly autumn passage hotspots.

a. Swanpool Cowfields
I arrived at 09.45 and unlike Tue 1st Sep it only took me 15 minutes to connect with a Spotted Flycatcher.

44. I found one flycatching at the far end of the 'Elder' hedge-line by the entrance to 2 cowfields. It was quite active in the occasional bursts of sunshine.

b. After checking some more hedges without success, I carried on to Fillingham where, fortunately, the cattle were in the farthest field.

45. Crossing Field 3 my attention was drawn to bird activity in a half-dead stumpy Willow and neighbouring trees. There were no fewer than 4 Spotflys flitting around as well as a mixed Tit group and 3 Willow Warblers (flycatching among the branches unlike the SpotFlys which flew out several feet away from the trees and also down to ground level to capture flying insects). There was non-stop action with much dashing around, relieved occasionally by perching on low branches. I eventually dragged myself away to check the usual (favourite) Hawthorn hedge about 200 yards distant.

46. I was very happy to find a singleton SpotFly flycatching from the hedge. It was an active feeder as were the munching cattle in the furthest field beyond.

c. My final visit was to Linwood Warren (Cowfields) near Market Rasen. I checked the usual SpotFly autumn haunts but there was NTR. No complaints, as overall I'd had a successful time out.

Freddy

My Dad reported a Spotted Flycatcher in his Kirton Holme garden (south Lincs), yesterday, 3rd September - his first in the village this year and no doubt a migrant. This species was a near annual breeding bird in the village during the 1990s/early '00s

An interesting post, Matthew. The sad statistic is that, according to the BTO Breeding Bird Survey 2015, the Spotted Flycatcher in Britain declined by 47% between 1995 and 2013.

Freddy

A sad statistic indeed Freddy. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it would appear Turtle Dove and Cuckoo have suffered the same fate in the village. In my 12 years (or so) of regular (almost daily) recording in the village around the period mentioned, Spotted Flycatcher, Turtle Dove and Cuckoo regularly featured during the summer months, almost to the point they were taken for granted. How times have changed. Chatting with my dad he says he can almost count on one hand the number of times he has seen or heard Turtle Dove and Cuckoo around the village since then.

Sat 5th September

Swanpool and Fillingham

Re-visits to 2 Spotted Flycatcher autumn passage hotspots.

a. Swanpool Cowfields (15 minutes from BBH)
Arriving at 09.45, I toured the usual hedgerows concentrating on those out of the brisk wind and in the occasional sunshine but it was NTR re SpotFlys.

b. Fillingham Cowfields (20 minutes from Swanpool)
There was NTR re SpotFlys in Field 1 but as soon as I moved to Field 2, I caught sight of the signature flight pattern of a feeding flycatcher.
47. In fact there was a pair of SpotFlys flycatching from tall Hawthorns, the first I'd seen in Field 2 this autumn. Presumably they were recent arrivals and will continue their journey to Africa in a day or so. On two occasions a Willow Warbler dashed out from the Hawthorns and pursued in rapid twisting flight a Spotted Flycatcher with an insect in its beak. Eventually the Willow Warbler flew off to another hedge nearby.

Freddy

Me and my lass also called in at Filly today for a couple of hours to enjoy the Swallows between 11.00am and 2.30pm..

3 Spot Fly in the last field..

I must have just missed you, Colin, as I left Fillingham Cowfields (over the stile) about 11.00, but perhaps you visited the Lake first and not the cowfields. I didn't venture beyond Fields 1 and 2 this morning as the cattle were in Field 3 most of the time , so I didn't get to see the 3 SpotFlys in the last field (Field 5).

Freddy

Sunday 6th September

Fillingham Cowfields

I think I found your group of 3 SpotFlys this morning, Colin, which you reported yesterday (5th) in Field 5, and which I was very keen to locate.

48. There were 2 adults and 1 juvenile flycatching from the tall Hawthorns which form a hedge between Fields 3 and 4. Fortunately, the cattle were at the very far side of Field 5, which enabled me to be a little more adventurous today in actually checking out Field 4 and the hedge shared with Field 5. Further, several small groups of locals were on their Sunday walk in the warm, sunny weather, admittedly keeping in the main to the lakeside boundary 'path'. One or two of the groups had dogs off the lead, which is surely considered unsafe near a Bull, Cows and Calves.

This year, I've visited/revisited all the documented inland Lincs SpotFly autumn passage hotspots and there's no doubt in my mind that the Fillingham Cowfields come out as Number One. The site rarely fails to deliver, visit after visit, with several small groups, pairs and singletons. Nothing in life is perfect and the only snag at Fillingham is the presence of the cattle in one field or another but, working together, we seem to have come to some mutual amicable understanding - ie. I keep well clear of them.

Also today ; Group of Long-tailed Tits sharing the hedge with the Spotted Flycatchers plus a very active Willow Warbler.
(incl) Brimstone (male)
..........Small Tortoiseshell.

Freddy

Sunday 13th September

I visited 2 Spotted Flycatcher autumn passage hotspots this morning (Sun).

a. Swanpool Cowfields
On my arrival, I met up with Andy Sims on his way home. He told me he had come across NO SpotFlys on his morning tour. That info saved me from walking around the various fields with no positive outcome.

b. Fillingham Cowfields.

The cattle were in the farthest field, Field 5. There was NTR re SpotFlys in Fields 1 and 2.
49. BUT a pair were flycatching from the Hawthorn hedge on the far side of Field 3. They were very active, with the inevitable Willow Warbler in tow; it sometimes perched out in the open a couple of feet or so from the SpotFlys resting between their sallies. It's remarkable how often Fillingham delivers when other favourite autumn passage hotspots do not

I was sooooo...pleased to connect with the 2 SpotFlys today. Prior to Fillingham this morning, I'd had 6 successive dips since my last sighting a week ago (6 Sep) : Swanpool (2), Fillingham, Linwood Warren, Hubbard's Hills and Haverholme.

Spotted Flycatchers are clearly getting increasingly scarce as we get further into September. Most of them, of course, are on their way to Africa. Nevertheless, further to today's pair at Fillingham, they could still turn up at the traditional autumn passage hotspots and one can be lucky when one's visit coincides with their visit! eg. 3 at Hubbard's Hills, Louth on 18 Sep and 22 Sep 2012. Given the right weather conditions, in addition to occasional singletons, there's a good chance of a relatively large fall at the coast, eg. Gibraltar Point (9 on 26 Sep 2012) plus late singletons, eg. 1 on 2 Oct 2012 at Gib Pt (with Kev Wilson thoughtfully alerting me to my 50th - and last - sighting of the year). Swanpool had a late singleton on 1 Oct 2012 - with Andy alerting me to No.49/2012. I am now on sighting No.49/2015........just 1 to go to that magical 50.

Freddy

Wednesday 16th September

Sighting no.50/2015 achieved.

A. Swanpool Cowfields

Further to a report of a Spotted Flycatcher this morning, I visited Swanpool Cowfields this afternoon. I spent an hour scanning the many bushes in the many hedgerows but without success. SpotFlys aren't always the easiest of birds to track down a few hours after the original sighting - sometimes they move but little from their hedgerow but often they are hundreds of yards away, in whatever direction!.......and then, perhaps, hours later, they return to their original hedgerow.

B. Fillingham Cowfields

The cattle were in Field 2. There was NTR in Fields 1 and 3 BUT in the Hawthorn hedge overlooking Field 4 a bird was perched silhouetted on an upper bare branch. It took off.......flycatching. I'd tracked down my Spotted Flycatcher sighting No. 50/2015.......an active singleton feeding frequently. Fillingham had delivered yet again. I have had a few dips there this summer and autumn but also a number of successes whereas in all the other Lincs 'SpotFly autumn passage hotspots' I've had a number of dips and few successes. I was preparing mentally to have to go to Gibraltar Point sooner or later for No. 50, but, fortunately, Fillingham trumped that possibility.

Freddy

Hi Freddie,

Flycatcher finale at Belton House: During a walk in Belton Park this morning I found a single bird feeding from a hawthorn on the bank of the Witham, followed by a group of at least six feeding from a clump of beech, sycamore and lime trees in the south west corner of the park, near The Mill.

Incidentally, I asked the golf course manager at Woodhall if he'd had a flycatcher's nest again at the workshop. He didn't find one but he said there were birds present there throughout the summer.

Further entertainment at lunchtime at Belton was provided by three buzzards and a sparrowhawk utilising the same thermal together, followed by a hobby over the house.

John

Friday 18th September

Swanpool
51/2015
Further to a much-appreciated call from Andy Sims late morning today (Fri), I went over to Swanpool where from 12.30 I had great views of a Spotted Flycatcher performing in trees at the edge of the path leading to the cowfields.

Also : Chiffchaff; Chaffinch flycatching.

Freddy

Hi John,

Congratulations on an interesting post re Belton and your 2 separate sightings of Spotted Flycatcher at this late date. Coincidentally, following a lead, I checked out the SW corner of Belton House grounds on 20th August, but without success. Belton could well be another inland SpotFly autumn passage hotspot as well as being a probable breeding site. I know that Steve Lyon had 8 birds there along the river in mid-August this year. (Dave Roberts had 6 at nearby Denton Reservoir/Cowfields around the same time).

Thanks again for your regular SpotFly news from the Woodhall area during the spring and summer. Just as I consider Fillingham to be the number one dependable passage site for Spotted Flycatchers in late summer/early autumn, there's no doubt in my mind that the Woodhall area is the number one dependable site in spring and summer, with supporting confirmatory sightings often posted by you.

Having reached my target figure of 50 sightings for 2015, i shall now be winding down and relaxing a little with less frequent dashing around Lincolnshire looking for Muscicapa striata. Having enjoyed a SpotFly sabbatical in 2013 to focus on my 'John Reddisson Saga' project, I intend to take another SpotFly break in 2016.........if only to reduce my petrol bills.

So, " Situation vacant : SpotFly chaser 2016; Qualifications : (incl.) Being slightly mad is essential, plus a true love of exploring scented bog-standard cowpat covered cowfields."

Freddy

A juv. Spotted Flycatcher was present around the southern boundary of Scartho cemetery today. A patch tick for me - has long looked like a good area for Flycatchers (at least on passage). Presumed of British origin.

Regards,

Josh

_________________
Twitter: @joshjforrester
Blog: http://jjf-gy.blogspot.co.uk/

Josh,

You believe the juvenile Spotted Flycatcher you saw at Scartho cemetery on 19th September to be of 'presumed British origin'. Perhaps it was of 'Scandinavian/North European origin'.

As we know, and as a recent BTO Migration Blog emphasised, birds migrating south through continental Europe at this time of year can be caught up in severe adverse weather that drifts them across the North Sea in such conditions. As a result, drift migrant Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Redstarts, Whinchats, etc., can all be found, particularly along the East Coast (eg. Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Gib Point) ........even rarities such as Barred Warbler. Such weather conditions have occurred recently.

Spotted Flycatcher pairs are often seen in autumn in Lincolnshire with one or two juveniles in tow. I would have thought it unlikely that the attentive pair then set off on migration to Africa leaving any juvenile behind. On the other hand, it would seem quite possible that adult and juvenile Spotted Flycatchers migrating south through continental Europe could become separated by severe adverse weather conditions, with the separated juvenile ending up in eastern England.

So, the question uppermost in my mind is "Are unattended juvenile Spotted Flycatchers seen in Lincolnshire in the autumn mainly drift migrants of continental European origin?" Perhaps some member has access to the literature on the subject?

Freddy