10th August 2025 - whilst walking along the river in Granta Park, Andy M's attention was attracted by a movement under one of the trees - a bird was flitting out and back, catching insects. A Spotted Flycatcher had returned to the spot where, several years ago now, the late Michael Holdsworth had fitted birds with tracking devices to monitor their migration to Africa and back. As Andy sat quietly and watched the bird for some time, he became aware that the adult was occasionally darting into the deeper cover of the tree, to feed a juvenile waiting there. So not only had this species returned, but it had also bred. So lovely to see this now scarce and declining species back and doing well here.
Juvenile Spotted Flycatcher - with the paler spots on the back
and more mottled plumage on the head and breast.
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