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Spotted Flycatchers Nesting
Tuesday, 24 June 2008 10:47

For the last few weeks I was privileged to follow the progress of a pair of nesting Spotted Flycatchers. I first observed the birds fleeting into and out of an old hanging basket that with the exception of a small conifer was pretty much dead.

After a few days, the penny dropped and I pulled up a chair to have a look inside. nestled within was a small nest containing five speckled eggs.

The Spotted Flycatcher is on the red list which means that it is not recovering from a historical decline or is globally threatened. Further details on the habitat and lifestyle of the Spotted Flycatcher may be found here.

I was able to track the nesting pair from egg laying to hatching and fledging though these are very flighty and will not tolerate any disturbance in the garden. After a few days I was attuned to the adult call. When the hen was sitting on the eggs, anyone leaving the house would cause the cock to emit an alarm call from the branch where he was overseeing his nest and this would cause the hen to also fly off.

I’m surprised they survived with the frequency of comings and goings at hour house, but all five chicks fledged.

The photography probably won’t win any prizes for picturesque imagery, however it does illustrate what can go on around us. I’m really happy that I managed this one for my photographic records. Hope you enjoy.

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