ID parade

After the triumph of the silver washed fritillary, Max is back with a possible sighting and a photograph of another new species for our lists: a female pied flycatcher.

A pin dropped to show where Max took his photograph; a female pied flycatcher showing the diagnostic wing colours; an unmistakeable male pied flycatcher

FoSCP’s Ian Bushell, Countryside Officer Ali Rasey and David Culverhouse of the Wiltshire Ornithological Society all think it looks right so far but we need a little more information before we can claim the species for our list. David says: It looks like a girl Pied Flycatcher but the excellent pic doesn’t provide a view of its wings.  While I think Max is probably correct, we could do with that side view … sorry !   

Above is a map showing where Max took his picture along the south east hedgeline of Sleeper Field, with images of male and female pied flycatchers (curtesy of Google) with their diagnostic wings patterns on display. If you are walking in that area, please keep watch for pied flycatchers and if you have a camera or a phone with you please try to get the wing patterns in shot. We would love to know for sure that this amber listed species has been identified in the reserve.

Good hunting!

Header image: possible female pied flycatcher by Max S (SCPLNR July 2023)