MERSEA WILDLIFE: FLYCATCHER FLOCK

Sunday 25 August 2019

FLYCATCHER FLOCK

The regular dog-walk down the side of the Firs Chase caravan site on Saturday 24th proved worthwhile with two pied flycatchers one pictured above, along with two spotted flycatchers feeding in a scrubby corner. Later in the day it seemed three pied flycatchers were present.
Also in the bushes were willow warbler, blackcap and whitethroat.

All four flycatchers were busy flying from perch to perch it was difficult to keep track of them all. This pied flycatcher perched high up showing the white flashes in the wings.

Andy Field only had a short walk from his house to come and see the flycatchers, taking this picture of the pied flycatcher as it perched in the open.
It is a few years since the last pied flycatcher was seen on the Island and many years since the last one at this west end of the Island.

The spotted flycatcher photographed by Andy, seemed to stick mainly to one bush while the pied flycatchers were a few metres nearby in another bush, occasionally getting together.

Another of Andy's photos showed one of the spotted flycatchers perched up high.
The flycatchers were still present into the afternoon, although viewing was tricky looking into the sun.

Also on Saturday a flock of 150 black-tailed godwits were resting on the mud in front of the Dabchicks. A Mediterranean gull flew over and a sparrowhawk was chased by 50 swallows near the Dabchicks.

At Shop Lane on Saturday early evening, Steve Entwistle found a pied flycatcher beside the lane just along from Fishponds Wood, also a red squirrel in the hedge nearby. Two Sandwich terns were seen flying along the Pyefleet Channel.

Andy photographed this whinchat on Reeveshall on Thursday 22nd - one of three seen along with 2 wheatears, 3 green sandpipers and a greenshank. The coal tit was heard singing and seen in Fishponds Wood.