Spotted
Flycatcher |
Pied
Flycatcher |
SPOTTED
FLYCATCHER
Muscicapa striata.
Fairly uncommon migrant breeder/passage visitor.
After a lean year in 2005, this species came back to form this year, with many records and locations, good numbers, and encouraging breeding information.
The first arrival was seen at Beamsley on 27th April, the earliest since 1993, and the second earliest on record. Within ten days, there was a singing male at St, Ives, increasing to six on 28th May (the most seen there by the regular observer in 25 years of covering the site), and leading to subsequent breeding.
About 70 reports came from 28 locations, fairly well dispersed across the recording area, including a rare garden record from Otley. Pairs were noted at a number of these, and breeding was established at St. Ives, Glovershaw, Leathley, and Lindley Wood, though the birds on the Denton Estate were said to have failed.
The only obvious evidence of visible migration came from Paul Clough (where 16 birds were seen during the autumn movement, including the year’s biggest count of nine on 25th August), Draughton Heights and Leeshaw. Paul Clough also had the distinction of hosting the latest bird on record in the Group area, on 25th September (CK, SR, BV)
The general tone of several reports indicated more birds than for several years, and birds being seen in previously unrecorded locations. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues.
PIED
FLYCATCHER
Ficedula hypoleuca.
Common migrant breeder/ uncommon on passage.
As usual, the first and last birds of the year were found in breeding territory, as the species is rarely seen inland on migration. Whilst the first arrival was on the about average date of 17th April, the last bird was seen on the earliest date on record, 17th June, though it may be, of course, that resident birds weren’t specifically recorded by observers after that. Both were seen in Strid Wood.
The species’ success as a local breeder is due almost entirely, if not totally, to the provision of nest-boxes in several woodlands, as shown:
Low Snowden 21 young ringed from four nests
Dob Park 16 young ringed from three nests
Folly Hall Wood 70 young ringed from 10 nests
Strid Wood 86 young ringed from 12 nests
It is gratifying to note that males were also found in five other locations: Redshaw Gill (2), Stubham Wood, Altar Wood, Walking Stick Wood (2), and Middleton Woods, though all clearly moved on, as there was no evidence of breeding.