As it was such a bright afternoon, I thought I would follow up a report from Eddie Shone (Tetney birder), via Dave Satterthwaite, of 2 pairs of Spotted Flycatchers having bred at Snipe Dales Country Park (near Horncastle) this summer. I reasoned that being only 1st August, the birds should still be around the Country Park.....somewhere.
I arrived at c 2.30pm and at the bottom of the hill from the Car Park, I bumped into a warden strimming the grass there. He gave me 2 stake-outs where Sp Flys had been reported recently :
a. by the 3rd bridge and nearby glade - half an hour spent there but nothing to report.
b. by the seat (with great look-out views) half way down the hill and which I had already passed ; but I then spent 20 minutes there on my return to the Car Park. It was at that 20 minute point that I caught sight of the classic 'signature movement' down the hill towards the first bridge : a singleton Sp Fly was repeatedly crossing the main track flycatching. I was able to watch it for c 10 minutes before it disappeared behind some trees.
Being not far from Ruckland, I decided to try my luck there again re the juvenile White-tailed Eagle. 20 minutes later (4.20), as I drew up behind two cars ( which I immediately recognised), two figures emerged from behind a hedge and signalled to me to follow them ....the two major Ruckland stalwarts, Dave Satterthwaite and Eddie Shone, both of whom I knew from previous visits. Eddie had the WTE in his 'scope - it was perched in a tree to the SW of Ruckland, not its favourite Beech Tree but close by on an open branch and facing us. So within seconds of arriving at Ruckland, I was feasting my eyes on the massive beak, white breast area and yellow legs and feet of the juvenile WTE. Many thanks to Eddie and Dave for that real treat.....two stalwarts who know more about the Ruckland WTE, its habits and movements than anyone else.
Incidentally, I was able to thank both Eddie and Dave for channelling the Snipe Dales Spotted Flycatcher info to me ......it's a small (birding) world.
Freddy
Login
FAQ
Search
