This afternoon the Redstart was still present by the railway bridge and has been joined by two Spotted Flycatchers. In the evening a Bittern was seen crossing the Deep Pit. A Peregrine and a Barn Owl were also seen and the Starling roost had built to about 600. RW.
Tag Archives: Spotted Flycatcher
Spotted Flycatcher – 2nd September
All day a Whinchat sat on the same piece of dock on the Wader Scrape, occasionally turning around or sallying forth after an insect, but always returning to the same perch. On the Causeway a Spotted Flycatcher paused briefly on the fence, dropping down, Robin-like, to catch an ant in the grass, before returning to the fence to eat it. It was a flying ant and I think the Whinchat was hunting the same prey. Black-headed Gulls were also hunting the flying ants, and so were squadrons of Migrant Hawkers. PS.
Whinchat – 31st August
This morning there was a Spotted Flycatcher in the willows at the river end of the Boundary Hedge. A Greenshank flew over the Slurry Lagoon but did not stay. In the afternoon three Whinchats spent some time feeding along the Ouse Dyke bank at the back of the Wader Scrape and the Lancaster Bomber visiting the Gedling Show flushed two Snipe from the Slurry Lagoon as it flew over the site. PS.
Spotted Flycatcher – 21st September
This afternoon there were two Spotted Flycatchers seen along the Ouse Dyke. One of them caught a Speckled Wood. A Wheatear was seen still on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon and the two Pintail and a Yellow-legged Gull were on the wet end.
Spotted Flycatcher – 28th August
As we walked along the Lower Path early on this morning there were lots of warblers and tits feeding in the elderberry bushes. Near the Irish Bridge an immature Spotted Flycatcher was found and further along, near the signal box, an adult Spotted Flycatcher was also found. Then a Hobby was seen over the river which made several attempts to double back and capture one of the swallows which were harassing it. Later, as we tried to refind the flycatchers to show to some people, a Redstart chased a Chiffchaff around a hawthorn bush. All three birds were still around in the early afternoon. On the Slurry Lagoon there were five Dunlin and a Little Ringed Plover . PS AE.
Spotted Flycatcher – 22nd August
This morning as we walked along the Lower Path four Jays sneaked into the canopy of the ash trees while a a Buzzard called overhead. There were several immature Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps and Whitethroats and a Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Tit in the bushes between the path and the railway line. Near to the signal box a Spotted Flycatcher was perched on the wires and then in the hawthorn bushes, and a Stoat ran across the path. By the river the Swallows’ alarm calls alerted us to a Hobby. PS.
A Little Egret was seen briefly on the Slurry Lagoon and several Roesel’s Bush-crickets were found on the Causeway. By the Small Gravel Pit an Emperor, Migrant Hawker, Brown Hawker and Common Darter were seen. PS.
Spotted Flycatchers – 9th August
Six to eight Spotted Flycatchers were seen today as one or two families moved through on migration. They were seen along the Railway Embankment and by the Railway Bridge. At the Bridge were a large gathering of Hirundines, including at least 100 Swallows, which were spooked by a Hobby.