unidentified flying object !!

[Penabby]

Hello to everyone

I am a complete bird watching newbie and would like to ask for some help identifying a bird I saw yesterday.

I live in Combe Martin North Devon and whilst working at my job as a carer, my lovely old lady whom I was looking after said to me look at that beautiful robin on my plum tree, it wasnt a robin, slightly smaller, a fawny colour quite plain and it was hovering around the bush. I have never witnessed any hovering birds before and was quite fasinated with it and would love to know what it was. Im sorry if my description is lacking but any insight would be much appreciated.


I seemed to have a wonderful birdy day yesterday and saved a swallow from another clients house, who had flown in and was desperatedly trying to fly through a window, absolutely beautiful bird and was very proud of myself for releasing it back outside.
I could get into all this bird stuff

[The Black Rabbit]

I'd hazard a guess at a SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. Quite like a small plain robin, not rare, and ofen as you say, seem to hover around bushes/fences etc... picking up insects.
Very often the Spotted Flycatcher will take up a perch - chase a fly, return to THE SAME SPOT, chase another fly etc... etc...
If your 'dull brown small fawn robin' was doing that - I'd put a lot of money on the fact your bird was indeed a Spotted Flycatcher.

[The Black Rabbit]

Of course, depending on what habitat you saw it in, it could have been any of the following also...

FEMALE or YOUNG WHINCHAT
FEMALE OR YOUNG STONECHAT
FEMALE WHEATEAR (though you'd probably have noticed her white rump)
LINNET (though you'd probably have noticed little splodges of red feathers)

I'd say FEMALE STONECHAT or SPOTTED FLY?

Not much help I'm afraid! Sorry!

[Penabby]

Thanks for your reply, you indeed are a big help, Ive had a look at some pictures and the spotted flycatcher looks like the most likely from what you suggested. I shall watch much more closely if I am honoured enough to see it again, again many thanks