...breeding success After three weeks had elapsed we could clearly see two little heads with gaping beaks as the constant feeding by the busy parents continued. We still worried about the squirrel and at lunchtime yesterday, 1st August, we feared the worst when we saw that the nest was empty. Then, to our great relief, we spotted two chicks being fed in the nearby shrubbery. Like last year we did not expect the family to hang about. However we were in for another treat. As
we sipped our drinks in the conservatory at 9.00 pm that evening, having cut the lawn, there was one of the parents rising regularly to catch insects from the garden chair near the Bog Cypress. Then, he or she joined the family for a last night in the nest. All the while a Barn Owl crossed the meadow and a Tawny Owl hooted as the bats came out to crisscross the lawn in celebration. Today the flycatchers are gone, I imagine on their way back to Africa. We look forward to seeing them back again next year.
STOP PRESS - Jonathan reports that a breeding pair were spotted feeding a young bird in his meadow on Saturday 30 August - given the gap in time it’s probably safe to assume this was another pair. Nevertheless it demonstrates the value of preserving meadows such as this as they provide excellent Flycatcher habitat. David and Margie Carter
Spotted Flycatchers in Brettenham For the past 30 years we have been lucky enough to have Spotted Flycatchers returning to gardens in Brettenham. They usually nest in our garden or close by. For the last four years Simon Evans has ringed the young from the nest box on the front of our house and has encouraged us to try and find out just how many pairs breed in the village. We managed to find six nesting sites last year in the village and this year decided to make an effort to survey the whole village. I have edited the parish magazine for over 25 years and write the monthly nature notes, so I asked people to let me have any sightings of Spotted Flycatchers, I have also during the last two years made and put up open fronted nest boxes at suitable sites.
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THE HAR R I ER – A u tu mn 2 0 1 4
