spotted flycatchers

The sites I used to find reliable in Dalby Forest Yorkshire, nearer car parks and and public roads, have not had any SF for years now but some summers there are pied ones in same areas' oaks! Similarly, last year was the first time I couldn't easily find at Rutland Water especially Egleton side - the year before they were catching butterflies in the car park - not been so far this year. Not seen any in Lincolnshire yet this year - were in Callan Lanes Wood last year.

Several SF in villages on Mull, Scotland this year. British Breeding Birds surveys show them in rapid decline.

Happily the traditionally reliable site in Cumbria was productive. From a single vantage point I counted 15-20 Spotfly and 6 Piedfly

A pair feeding a fledged juvenile bird at Linwood Warren yesterday.

Still some hope!

Richard.

I’ve had mixed experiences with Spotted Flycatchers this year. At a usually guaranteed site in Derbyshire I found none: in the Isles of Scilly, in May, there were good numbers.
Next week I’m in Cumbria and will check out another ‘reliable’ site and report back.

I just checked the Lorand/Atkin book on the birds of the county published in 1989.

Of the SF, it states: " A common summer visitor and fairly common passage migrant on the coast. It is widespread throughout the county, breeding in open woodland, copses, orchards, parkland and mature garden."

Is its decline over the past 30 years more marked in Lincolnshire than in other parts of the country?

I usually only make it as far as the pub!!