Not Many Spotted Flycatchers This Year?

[tigger]

Hi

Just wondered if others had noticed many Spotted Flycatchers this year? I've been told that it's a really bad year for them.

The ones that nest in our nestbox have turned up this week (but they are at least 2 weeks later than normal) and a friends haven't turned up yet (even though they nest in her massive garden every year)

Here are a few pics of mine. Male feeding female with a Banded demoiselle, bringing in more moss, and another of the female sitting on her very well made mossy nest (usually it's no more than a few twigs, this year it's overflowing!)

I have a remote camera on the nestbox, which has been in place for the last two years.



Cheers. Jane

[Naturenutz]

Hi, i think the spotted flycatchers are one of my favourite birds,unfortunatly they dissappeared from my area a good few years back, but im glad to see they are still around .

[Tobermorey]

I haven't found any spotties yet in my part of Essex but I think its too early to be getting worried. Spotted Flycatchers are one of the latest migrants to arrive and hopefully they are just a little later this year. Having said that - they are getting harder to find around here.

[tigger]

For five years mine turned up around 18 May, regular as clockwork. Last year they turned up in July (but I'm pretty sure this was a second brood) as I did get a glimpse of them around 18 May. This year it's beginning of June.

I've been watching the Portland Bird Observatory for their reports, and there just doesn't seem to be so many Spot flys arriving. As you say it might be early yet. I'm hoping you are right and they all appear in a big rush...

Jane

[aeshna5]

I haven't seen one yet this year, but see few these days- I usually catch up with them in August on return passage. A shame they have declined so much over the last decade or so.

[tigger]

Where abouts in the country are you aeshna5?

[Jenny W]

Seen none this year so far and noticed a definite lack of them last year. Used to see them commonly a few years back.

[vinnychameleon]

Iv had one in the garden lovely to watch diving after insects.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by tigger

Where abouts in the country are you aeshna5?

Western suburbs of London.

[tigger]

I've been trying to see what exactly they are catching in my garden. Definitely lots of hoverflies, also banded demoiselle and azure damselflies (probably from my pond). Not so good today for them, with the windy and colder weather.