The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Riseholme college
28th July

New spotted flycatcher nest site found-25/30ft up at the top of a dead ash trunk-quite open but surrounded by ivy clad ash trees.
Adult seen catching insects and then feeding young in nest.
Am I right to think that spotted flys. are single brooded-so this pair must be different to ones nesting a month ago?

Ian Birch

Ian,
Although Spotted Flycatchers can be double brooded, a second brood is said to be a rare occurence......although a hen bird has even been recorded sitting in August.

However, 'rare is rare' so your birds would probably be a different pair from the successful allotment garden one and as per the Dunsby pair I saw recently with chicks - failed first time breeders having a second successful attempt and bringing off their brood to fledge in late July.

Freddy

As we arrived at the Spotted Flycatcher nest site at Riseholme in overcast weather just before 12.00 noon today (Saturday), an adult Sp Fly was immediately seen perched nearby. After a few minutes, it began flycatching ( and moth-catching ) and flew to the nest to feed the chicks. As it did so, its mate flew off the nest and the pair subsequently began feeding the chicks in tandem.

At one stage a Grey Squirrel approached the nest area and, being harassed/mobbed by one of the parent birds, it made off.

Thanks to Ian for the lead and additional site info.

Also seen/heard nearby were Great-spotted Woodpecker, plus a veritable swarm of Hirundines mobbing a Sparrowhawk.

Freddy (with son, Alex).

I visited the Riseholme College Spotted Flycatcher nest site again this morning (Sat), a week after my last visit (30 July).

There was a distinct change in the feeding pattern. The adults were feeding the nest chicks in tandem and then, unusually, were both disappearing for up to 10 minutes at a time. This pattern was repeated several times during my visit. As the adults arrived at the nest, I could only see 2 chick heads appearing (although there could have been a third chick at the back screened by the other two), and then, after the adults had left (with the occasional faecal sac removal), a lot of wing flapping at the top of the nest.

I surmise that during their absences from the nest site, the adults were probably feeding one or two very recently fledged young in nearby trees out of my line of vision.

Freddy

Returning to BBH on the A15 today (Mon) from a successful trip for Spotted Flycatchers at Fillingham Lake, just N of Lincoln (see other post), I had to pass Riseholme College.....so I called in to check the progress of the chicks which had been in the nest (with lots of wing-flapping) when I last visited on Sat 6th August. From the lack of any activity at the nest site or in the immediate vicinity, it was soon clear - as expected - that the remaining chicks had fledged.

However, wandering around and then looking across the road from the general nest site area, I caught sight of the Sp Fly adults which were repeatedly perching on numerous wires crossing the garden of " Beck Cottage " before launching their flycatching forays. I noticed that one adult was flying into an ornamental berry tree with its beakful of insects whereas the other adult was departing in the opposite direction with its insect load. Clearly the young were scattered around.

So, Ian, we know for sure that, at least, this Riseholme brood escaped the clutches of any predator to survive to fledge and fly the nest.

Freddy