Yorkshire Sculpture Park - 24th July 2026

 Jayne and I had a walk around YSP today, and added a new species for the year, saw 3 ringed Mute Swans and managed a beautiful picture of a Brown Hawker.

The "year tick" was a single Spotted Flycatcher (173). This is a new species for us at this site. Unfortunately, no photo, as it flew away as soon as we spotted it!

The three ringed swans were 31Y3, 9Y63 and 6Y97. They all appeared to see last year's youngsters (aged 5), and will all have been ringed by Yorkshire Swan and Wildlife Hospital. 

6Y63

9Y63

31Y3

Brown and Migrant Hawkers were everywhere, along with a couple of Emperor dragonflies. One of the Brown Hawkers posed nicely for a photo on some sycamore keys.

Brown Hawker

Year List Update - 20th July 2025

As always, at this time of the year, the Year List slows down, as most of the easier-to-find species have been recorded. I have, however, managed to add a few new species.

The first is Long-eared Owl (179), that was seen in NE Derbyshire in June. Next up was Crossbill (180), that was recorded at Linacre on 5th July. Spotted Flycatcher (181) was seen on a walk in Tideswell Dale, also on 5th July. Green Woodpecker (182) was heard, but not seen, at Hardwick Hall last week, and the final bird, Yellow-legged Gull (183), was seen today, at Ogston Reservoir.

Yellow-legged Gull 

Update: Common Sandpiper (184) was seen at Ogston, on 28th July.

Spotted Flycatcher - 30th May 2024

 Today is our last full day in West Sussex, and this morning, we popped across to the National Trust's Petworth House. We arrived a little early for the main house, so we parked up in the Deer Park and had a short walk. 

Within a few minutes, we spotted a new bird for the year; Spotted Flycatcher (177) This was quite unexpected, but a lovely surprise, especially as it was nest building!

Spotted Flycatcher

The last bird to mention, is one that we glimpsed briefly as we were driving. We spotted a long winged, long-tailed bird gliding, and at first thought it might be a Red Kite. We then noticed that the tail, didn't have a fork. Our only other thought was a Honey Buzzard! Unfortunately, we couldn't stop the car, so we didn't get any better views. One that got away!!!!

Deep Dale - 14th May 2023

 The weather played ball today (20 degrees and sunny) so Jayne and I set off up Deep Dale for a walk.

Whilst there, we spotted 4 species of butterfly, including our first Green Hairstreaks of 2023. Species seen were: Orange Tip (15+), Green Hairstreak (c.10), Brimstone (1 male) and  Red Admiral (1).

Green Hairstreak

Birds were far and few between, but we did see 1 male Redstart, Jackdaw, Carrion Crows, Goldfinch, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and, best of all, a single Spotted Flycatcher - my 163rd species of the year.

Lathkill Dale - 6th June 2020

Jayne and I went for a walk along Lathkill Dale today. The weather wasn't great, with strong winds and lots of cloud, but we did get a few spells of sunshine which brought out a few insects.

Birdwise, it was quite quiet, but we did manage to see and hear 4 Ravens (family party perhaps?), and, best of all, a pair of mating Spotted Flycatchers! Other birds seen were: Jackdaws, Crows, Blue and Great Tit, Mallards, Mute Swan (1 pair with 5 cygnets), Grey Heron, Swallow, Swift, House Martins (20+), Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Moorhen and Coot (2 broods).

A few insects were seen in the sunnier periods, including my first Chimney Sweeper moth of 2020, male and female Common Blue Butterflies, one Speckled Wood and a Volucella bombylans hoverfly.

Common Blue (male)

Common Blue (female)

Volucella bombylans (bumblebee mimic)

Linacre Update - 20th May 2020

I had a walk around Linacre with my nephew, Luke, on 20th May. The weather was warm and sunny and we got some great views of some of the insects and birds, including one species last reported in 2011!!!

I'd better start with the bird not recorded since 2011 - SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. Our last sighting was back in June 2011 (see here). This year's sighting was in a different part of the woods that I don't normally visit, so it's possible it has been present in previous years and not spotted.

Spotted Flycatcher

Insect wise it was also a good visit. The first sighting was a Wall Brown. This was very nice, as I had my first Linacre record of this butterfly last year. Next up was a Green Shieldbug, followed by a Small Copper, a Dingy Skipper (my first sighting since 2014!) and a Speckled Wood.

Wall Brown

Dingy Skipper

Wednesday's trip was also the first time in 2020 that we were able to record any damselflies, with two species seen: Large Red and Common Blue. These two species are recorded annually at Linacre, but this visit was the first time that I've actually seen Large Red Damselflies ovipositing (egg laying) on site. One pair was seen laying eggs in vegetation on the bottom reservoir. Exuviae of this species, and of Common Blue Damselfly were also found for the first time. The Large Red exuviae were in the ringing site, and the Common Blue (1) was found on the top reservoir.

Large Red Damselfly

Spotted Flycatcher

I was up in Ripley, North Yorkshire at the weekend enjoying my son's wedding(!). In a quiet moment, I had a walk around the village where I spotted a pair of Spotted Flycatchers, who were busy "flycatching" in the church yard, and returning to an unseen nest. Both birds were very confiding, and posed beautifully on the various gravestones. A very nice "year tick".

Spotted Flycatcher

Whilst there, I also had a walk down to the nearby Ripley Castle and River Nidd, where I had another pair of Flycatchers collecting food, as well as Grey Wagtails feeding at least 2 juveniles, a fly over Grey Heron and several pairs of Jackdaws visiting nest holes. Other species recorded in the village including Pied Wagtail, House Sparrow, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Goldcrest, Red Kite, Swallow, nest building House Martin and Swift.

House Martin

Year List update:
174 - Spotted Flycatcher

Nightjars and Woodcock

Every year, at the end of June, I lead a walk for the Chesterfield RSPB Group around Clumber Park, to see Woodcock and Nightjar. We were there on Friday, and managed to record both species, and another "year tick", Spotted Flycatcher.

We started the walk at 7pm, and spent an hour or so walking around by the lake, where we had sightings of Wren, Blackbird, Swallow, Swift, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Jackdaw, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Woodpigeon and the first of 2 Spotted Flycatchers. Down on the water, we recorded Mute Swan, Mallard, Gadwall, Coot (2 nests), Tufted Duck and Canada and Greylag Goose, including this leucistic individual.

Greylag Goose

At about 8.30pm, we moved across to the south side of the lake for a short walk, and added Kestrel, Willow Warbler and Yellowhammer to the group's list, before moving again, to the area where we knew we'd see the star birds! Woodcock put on a good show as soon as we got in place, with about half a dozen birds seen and heard flying around. The Nightjars, however, made us wait a little longer, however, with first "churring" heard at about 10.15pm. Unfortunately, for the first time on our trips, we didn't manage to see the Nightjars, most likely as the area we use is now becoming a little over grown.

Year list update:

151 – Spotted Flycatcher

152 – Woodcock

153 - Nightjar

Year List Update

I was out at Clumber Park on Friday evening with the Chesterfield RSPB Group for the annual Nightjar Walk.

We met at 7pm and had a short walk around the lake where we saw hundreds (!) of Canada and Greylag Geese, which included adults and this year's young. Also present were Mallard, Gadwall, Coots, a Moorhen, Mute Swan and Great-crested Grebes. 

3 members of the walk had arrived earlier and had managed to find a pair of Spotted Flycatchers on site, so we made a short detour and watched the birds "fly catching" from the top of a tree. Other small birds seen included Swifts, House Martins and singing Yellowhammers, Willow Warblers and a stunning male Linnet.

At about 9.30pm we moved to another part of the park to see if we could catch up with the Nightjars and Woodcocks. We didn't have to wait too long before the first Woodcock flew over our heads and the first "churring" was heard from the Nightjars at about 9.45pm. By 10.30pm we'd seen and heard 2 birds.

Year List update:
142 - Spotted Flycatcher
143 - Woodcock
144 - Nightjar

Menorcan Birds

Our family holiday this year took us to Menorca. This was our first visit to the Mediterranean island and we were very pleased with the 30+ degrees temperatures, a couple of new birds "lifers" and some lovely beaches.

Our base for the holiday was in the south coast resort of Son Bou where we had daily sightings of Yellow-legged and Audouin's Gulls.

Yellow-legged Gull

 

Audouin's Gull

 

We spotted 4 different colour-ringed Audouin's Gulls, details of which have been sent off, so I'll post about them as soon as I have the information back. Also seen from the beach were Shags.

Just behind the beach at Son Bou there is a large marsh, which isn't the easiest place to access, but it is possible to walk along the sand dunes and look over the marsh in different places. We had several sightings of Little Egret (maximum 7 coming into roost one evening), Purple Heron (maximum of 3 in flight) and Purple Gallinule (1 in flight on two occasions) over the marsh, and one evening we saw and heard two birds in silhouette, which, when we listened to the calls on the IPod, sounded a lot like Night Heron.

Other birds heard in and around the marsh included Zitting Cisticola (heard every day), Reed, Cetti's and Sardinian Warbler, Hoopoe (4 together) and a pair of Bee-eaters that spent most days hunting in the dunes.

Bee-Eater

House Sparrows were very common around the accommodation, as were Spotted Flycatchers, Turtle Doves (seen daily around the resort, even feeding on the lawn, just 5 feet away from me) and a very confiding juvenile male Blue Rock Thrush, which fed every day on the lawn in front of our apartment!

Blue Rock Thrush

 



As well as the birdlife around Son Bou, we also hired a car for a few days and travelled around the island to a few other birding spots. Details of these other sites, the 2 "lifers" and an update on the year list next time!

Linacre nest update- 19th May 2013

I think I can count on one hand the number of times I visit Linacre in a T-shirt. Sunday 19th was just one of those days, as the temperatures topped an impressive 17 degrees Celsius!! After a lovely walk around Bakewell earlier in the day I popped down for a couple of hours yesterday afternoon to see what was going on.

The first bird of note was the male Pied Flycatcher that was still present and singing in the same area by the middle reservoir. Although I was very pleased to see and hear him, my joy was tinged with a hint of sadness as a quick check of the nearby nest boxes drew a blank as regards any nests. Time's getting on if he's to attract a mate and breed successfully this year.

Other nest news was more positive. The Song Thrush nest found last week was still being actively incubated. An adult Mistle Thrush was seen with a beak full of worms indicating a nearby nest and out on the water we now have 2 Coot nests and 2 Great-crested Grebe nests complete with sitting birds! The second grebe nest is on the top reservoir about 4m out from the boardwalk. Fingers crossed it doesn't get too disturbed.

Great-crested Grebe nest

 

One bird that appears every year at Linacre, but which is sometimes very tricky to find is the Spotted Flycatcher. Unfortunately I wasn't lucky enough to record one at Linacre on Sunday, but I did manage to see one at Dovedale on Saturday. This brings my year list to 125 species.

Year List update:
125-Spotted Flycatcher

2 Year ticks, 3 pulli ringed and 3 new eggs.

I woke up early this morning, so I decided to pop up to Linacre to refill the feeders in the new ringing site. They were all completely empty, so we know that they're being used by something at least. On the way back home I stopped by the main entrance to see if I could find the Little Owl that's been reported a couple of time recently. As I walked along the drive I spotted one fly into one of the Oak trees. I walked along a bit further, but I couldn't spot it again. Anyway, it was good to see it and add it to the Year List.

After Linacre I popped out with Sorby Breck ringers again to our site in Sheffield, where we ringed a brood of Great Tits. We also popped into a new site for me, Burrs Woods near Barlow in Derbyshire, where we ringed another brood of Great Tits. One of the boxes contained a Nuthatch nest, but the bird was still on eggs so no "ringing tick" today. Whilst walking around the woods we did however, spot a Spotted Flycatcher, which was my second year tick of the day. Very nice.

Last, but definitely by no means least, I'm really happy to say that the Starlings in the box on the side of my house now have 3 new eggs, so I'm keeping everything crossed that they continue to thrive. I've added the new arrivals to the Nestbox Challenge website.

Starling eggs

Year List moves on by 2 new species:
135 - Little Owl
136 - Spotted Flycatcher

Linacre WeBS Walk - 11th and 12th June 2011

This month's WeBS walk results are a combination of  two walks, the first by Mandy and Vicky on Saturday and the second by me on Sunday 12th. Waterbird numbers were about right for this time of year, but there was a lovely surprise was a new breeding species for Linacre - Pied Wagtail. 2 juvenile birds were found being fed by an adult on the middle reservoir. Until now we have only recorded recorded Pied Wagtail during the winter months, so this record is really good!

Juvenile Pied Wagtail

As well as this we also confirmed breeding for Grey Wagtail again with a family party and two broods of Mandarin Duck were also present. A Common Buzzard was seen flying low over the bottom car park, being mobbed by 2 Crows and a male Bullfinch was also seen in this area. Mandy found an adult Spotted Flycatcher on Saturday, our first of the year. Brilliant sighting!!

Female Mandarin with 7 ducklings

This month's results are: Mallard 44, including 5 broods of 3,7,5,5 and 6, Mandarin Duck 14, including 2 broods of 4 and 7, Moorhen 3, including a pair trying to build a nest, Coot 8, Pied Wagtail (3), Grey Wagtail (4, 1 adult and 3 juveniles), the hybrid Canada Goose and Little Grebe 3, 1 adult and 2 juveniles).

Little Grebe and 1 of 2 chicks

As well as the birds I also spotted my first Small Tortoiseshell and Meadow Brown butterflies of the year, as well as several bumblebee species and a Drone Fly!

Small Tortoiseshell

Drone Fly

Clumber Park - 10th June 2011

As a birdwatcher, there are certain events that I look forward to every year, such as the first returning summer migrants or winter thrushes. Another event that I always enjoy is this early summer evening visit to Clumber Park, in Nottinghamshire, to look for the Nightjars and Woodcock.

Clumber lake with Greylag Geese

Tonight's visit, run as part of the Chesterfield RSPB's programme of events, began at 7pm in the chapel car park where the first birds, a beautiful pair of Stock Doves were seen in one of the nearby trees. Walking down to the lake we soon spotted Swift (dozens feeding low over the water), Swallow, House and Sand Martin. Waterbirds were present on the lake itself and included Gadwall, Coot, Mute Swan, Mallard, Canada and Greylag Goose, all with young in tow.

Coot's nest and young

Other waterbirds seen, but which didn't have young were Moorhen, Tufted Duck and a pair of Shoveler, the male of which was going into eclipse plumage.

The walk continued down the side of the water where we managed to locate a few more summer migrants with Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and a Blackcap/Garden Warbler all singing. An Oystercatcher found feeding on the grass, was an unusual sight and was my first at this site. The highlight, however, of this part of the walk was a pair of Spotted Flycatcher that we managed to find and watch "flycatching" on the far side of the lake.

At about 9.15pm we headed back to the car park and drove to another area of the park where we had seen both Nightjar and Woodcock in previous years. We got in position next to an area of cleared plantation and waited for the light to fade.

Nightjar habitat in Clumber Park

Whilst waiting for the first Nightjars, we heard a distinctive call and saw a couple of Woodcock"roding" overhead. A Cuckoo was also calling, but wasn't seen. After about half an hour (about 9.40pm before the I think!) we heard the first "churring" and its wasn't long before Nightjars appeared flying low overhead. At one point we had 2 birds singing at the same time and saw at least 3 birds, including a female that flew up from the floor, presumably from a hidden nest. If you've never herard a Nightjar "churring", follow this link, it's an amazing sound!!

The evening ended at about 10.30pm and we all left the area leaving the birds churring away. Many thanks to all that attended.

Padley Gorge - 28th May 2011

Had a short walk down the gorge this afternoon with Jayne. Despite the fact that it was quite late in the day we still managed to find some great birds doing what birds do best at this time of the year, that is creating the next generations!

First sighting was a family party of Grey Wagtails around the top of the gorge, followed closely by an adult Dipper (my first of the year!). Crossing over the river and returning back up towards the moor we could hear Pied Flycatchers singing and soon found a pair feeding young in one of the nest boxes. Whilst watching these birds we heard a real commotion and, looking up, we could see a male Great-spotted Woodpecker feeding young in a perfectly circular nesthole. The young really do make a noise, calling constantly, even when the adults birds aren't present! Nearby a Wood Warbler was heard singing and a female Redstart was spotted in the trees. Highlight of the day, however, went to the pair of Spotted Flycatchers that Jayne found nest building in a broken off tree stump -well done!! The nest is easily viewable from the main path, so I'll pop back laer this week and get some photos. Until then, here's an adult bird I saw back in 2007 at Barbrook Plantation.

Spotted Flycatcher

Barbrook Plantation - 17th April 2011

After my early morning visit to Linacre I popped up to Barbrook Plantation, a small area of woodland on the edge of moorland in the Peak District, and part of the RSPB's newly -established Eastern Moors Partnership. This is a regular spot for me in early spring to catch up with a few summer migrants and today's visit allowed me my first views of Tree Pipit. At least three individual birds were singing and displaying from the trees and I also managed to get a half decent shot of one against a beautiful blue sky.

Tree Pipit

Willow Warblers were in abundance here today with at least 6 singing and another sure sign of summer was a pair of Curlew "bubbling" in the background and 1 Skylark singing overhead. Resident birds seen were: Song Thrush (collecting food, another record for the Bird Atlas), Lesser Redpoll "buzzing" overhead, Chaffinch, Kestrel, Blackbird, Robin, Treecreeper, Meadow Pipit, Carrion Crow and Wren. 2 Canada Geese also flew overhead and landed in the stream by the bridge. I'll pop back later in the season to search for the ever-elusive Redstart and late-arriving Spotted Flycatcher.