First Spotted Flycatchers were recorded here on the 11th May, this is four days early on a nine year average for Strongstry.
I have been experimenting with different designs of nest boxes for this species the last couple of years, I don't put them up until the end of April so our local residents don't get time to use them.
For the first time I have success, the above pair have built their nest in the box, this is now complete and there is a lot of displaying around the nest site this morning.
There was another individual singing at Alderbottom this morning.
The attached photographs were taken from some distance away.
Thanks Brian very nice photos and an interesting text on these rare to see birds, your ingenuity with regard to box construction/siting has obviously paid off , brilliant.
Checked the site this morning and both birds were sheltering out of the rain, almost no flying insects around we need a temp rise quickly so they can hopefully lay and raise their young.
