The Lincolnshire Bird Club

The Catchwater Drain bridge area at Swanpool is a traditional stopover site for migrating Spotted Flycatchers in late August/early September (eg. 9 on 22 Aug 08, 5 on 28 Aug 09..with B.Mere... and 3 on 27 Aug 10). In 2011, thanks to the regular posting of reports by Andy Sims, I was able to record several Spotflys during the favoured stopover period.

I visited the area this morning (10.00 - 11.00) and although I saw no Spotted Flycatchers (still in advance of the usual dates), I did record the following migrants ( only 5-10 minutes from the centre of Lincoln, traffic permitting) :

Common Redstart - female, flashing her tail colour and flying out several times from a low hedge to feed on insect prey near/on the ground
Chiffchaff - 2
Common Whitethroat - 1
Swallow - several zooming around quite low
Swifts and House Martins higher up
plus incl. :
Tree Sparrow
Goldfinch
Linnet.

Freddy
PS.....I shall return

Female type Redstart present this afternoon in hedge running north from Catchwater bridge. Very vocal, giving Willow Warbler like huit, and showing well, occasionally flycatching.

_________________
Regards,

Andy.

Redstart still present this morning, sunning itself on outside of hedge. Also 1 Lesser Whitethroat & 2 Whitethroats in same hedge.
1 Willow Tit on feeders at Boultham mere.

_________________
Regards,

Andy.

Migrants noted this morning were a female Blackcap and a Lesser Whitethroat........both in the hedge running N from the Catchwater Drain Bridge.
Lincs birder Andy G. managed a fine photo of the Blackcap.
Also a vociferous Green Woodpecker......but no Spotted Flycatcher seen (still a few days before the usual migration passage period).

Freddy

Have been away for a week but on checking patch today I found a female type Redstart in same stretch of hedge as the one was on 9th & 10th, same bird or another? Also 2 Lesser Whitethroats & 2 Blackaps.

_________________
Regards,

Andy.

Andy,

I think the female type Redstart you reported today is either the original one which went flyabout locally for a few days from c.11th/12th August and has now returned to the same hedge......or is perhaps a new one. I initially reported the Redstart on Tue 7th August (as above) : it was already feeding by the hedge as I arrived and stayed around throughout the whole of my visit: one could hardly miss that flashing red tail.

I drew a (total) migrant blank there on Mon 13th August. Yesterday, Sat 18th, with 15 minutes on my own and about half an hour with Andy Gibson by the hedge, only a female Blackcap and a Lesser Whitethroat (as reported) were seen during my visit.

Regards,

Freddy
PS......it can't be long now before the first Spotted Flycatcher puts in an appearance.