Spot the Flycatcher

[David Morison]

A pair of Spotted Flycatchers were found nesting in the Ivy covering the North wall of an old stone house nearby. Typically for a bird feeding young in the nest they always use a particular perch from which to assess the area for danger before flying to the nest. If anyone or anything is around they stay for longer on the perch shouting "ick" until the perceived danger passes. In this case the perch was an electricity cable from the house to the stables. Spotted Flycatchers were once common in villages and hedgerows but their number has declined rapidly and they are now locally scarce with only about twenty pairs or so known to nest in Lincolnshire last year. This is such an iconic bird that the presence of a nesting pair always draws local birders in, fortunately I was only the third one to visit as it is only 1 mile from my house.





E-M5 plus M 75-300mm

David

[Falk]

Re: Spot the Flycatcher

You had some difficult lighting it seems!? A lovely bird. I don't think have ever seen or snapped one myself. Thanks for sharing.

[Falk]

Re: Spot the Flycatcher

I don't think have ever seen or snapped one myself.

So it was - until yesterday moring when, by luck and coincidence, I was called by my neighbour to come and visit the Flycatcher in his garden!

Sitting on a downward pointing dry Willow branch, which was used as prefered perch:
#1 50% crop

... and if I may had come to close or it was just suitable after an executed dart for insects, perch No.2 was used:
#2 50% crop

Unfortunately the sky was a bit dull and ISO1000 had to be used to get at least a chance of a decent sharp image. But my hand held Bigma shots can obviously not compare with the quality of yours David.
I was surprised by the bird being not shy at all. It sometimes came as close as 3m, catching some insect on the lawn in front of me. Way to fast action to get this pictured though.

Hope you don't mind me adding my pics here?!
Falk

[Imageryone]

Re: Spot the Flycatcher

That is a wonderful capture, David, not seen one around here for quite a while. Hope the eggs hatch to add to the very small population.

[tomphotofx]

Re: Spot the Flycatcher

Nice captures by David & Falk.

Tom