The main points of interest were:
- Probable Spotted Flycatcher heard calling from main path, towards northern end of zone 3. I have never recorded this species before on site, although anecdotal evidence suggests they have been present, at least in the past. This is an increasingly rare bird in most of England (I haven’t seen one in the region for several years), so if confirmed it would be great. I will try to again to see it, or at least hear its song, on the final survey visit, but hopefully I will have a further chance to look for it before then.
- Linnet still in southern scrub – at least 5 birds again.
- Common Whitethroat still present in hedgerow down from Peveril gate, and also found for the first time this season in southern scrub. No further sign of Lesser Whitethroat.
- Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker found along northern edge.
- Jay seen and Green Woodpecker heard, but no signs of Treecreeper or Nuthatch today.
- 2 Mistle Thrush on wires and in field below southern entrance – the first I have recorded on site during this year’s survey visits.
John (with help from Jenni and Dave)
Postscript: The Hunt for the Spotted Flycatcher
John (with Tim) returned on May 30: “We listened all around the northern end of zone 3 from the paths, plus an easily accessible bit in the middle, without hearing the call. This was reflected in the Merlin app, which didn’t pick up the species but clearly picked it up on Monday, backing up what we heard at the time. My conclusion therefore is that most likely the bird(s) had a stop-over before continuing their migration further north. They are a very late migrant, not arriving in their more northerly breeding grounds until June. I have entered Monday’s record as “Likely” on NatureCounts, as we did not actually see the bird and the call is not particularly distinctive (although identification was backed up by Merlin).”
