Peterborough Bird Club annual report Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata | A | Scarce 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Scarce migrant breeder and scarce passage migrant. The first records were on 4 May: one from the traditional site of Bluebell Wood, where one was seen mobbing a Tawny Owl (DG), one at Orton Mere (BD) and another at Southey Wood (GRH). Records came from a total of 17 locations. Breeding was confirmed at School Lane, Elton, with a second pair also thought to have bred in the village (DH, BHS) and Marholm Crematorium (MAW). A pair were nest-building in a Longthorpe garden on 8 Jun (GRH) and a pair was in the grounds of Peterborough Cathedral on 19 May (DW). A juvenile survived a encounter with a window in Bainton on 11 Jul (SB) (pictured left). The last record for the year was at Elton SF on 20 Sep (BHS). Image © Terry Begg. Click on picture for bigger version
2002	Scarce migrant breeder and scarce passage migrant . An improvement on 2001, with birds reported from 15 sites (only reported from three sites in 2001). The first record came from Grimeshaw Wood on 3 May (KAF, MW) with a single bird at Elton on 6 May (BHS). Confirmed breeding records included a pair feeding young at Market Deeping on 29 Jun (TW), a pair feeding young at Eastgate, Bourne, on 4 Jul (RB, WB), a pair feeding 3-4 young in Elton on 18 Jul (BHS), a pair with a juvenile at Ferry Meadows CP on 31 Jul (DG) and a family group in central Peterborough on 31 Jul (IC). The last record of the year was at Woodwalton Fen NNR on 25 Sep (SPD). Image © Steve Dudley. Click  for bigger version
2001	Scarce migrant breeder and scarce passage migrant. The first at Ferry Meadows CP 12 May (MJW). In contrast to 2000, when there were records from many sites across the region, recorded at only two sites away from Ferry Meadows CP - Northminster Recreation Ground 9 Jul (DW) and Peterborough city centre 10 Jul (CM). At Ferry Meadows CP, counts of eight on 4 Sep (MJW), 7 Sep (TD) and 8 Sep (GRH) and seven on 28 July (MJW), with the last there 16 Sep (BHS)
2000	Scarce summer visitor. A good year for this species, with birds noted at Glapthorn Cow Pasture, Haddon Crossing, Southey Wood, Stanley Park, Langtoft West End GP, Ferry Meadows CP, Castor Hanglands NNR, Drysides BP, Lord's Holt and Deeping St James. The first record of the year was on 12 May at Glapthorn Cow Pasture, with the last bird recorded on 1 Oct at Bainton GP. In addition, evidence of breeding, including nest-site prospecting and juvenile birds, came from Market Deeping, Elton, Burghley Park, Folksworth and Baston Fen NR.
1999	Scarce summer visitor. Reported from Orton BP, Ferry Meadows CP, Market Deeping, Peterborough, Elton and Eldernell. Early birds were at Bluebell Wood and Eldernell on 8 May (DP). A particularly late record concerned a bird feeding in the hedgerow at Coney Meadow, Ferry Meadows CP, on 3 Oct (RH). Juveniles were recorded at Ferry Meadows CP and Stanley Park, Peterborough.
1998	Scarce summer visitor. Extreme dates were at Ferry Meadows CP on 10 May (TW) and Market Deeping on 19 Sep (TW). Other records came from Ufford (one at nest site, 25 May), Deeping St James (9 Jun), Ferry Meadows CP (pair feeding at least one chick on 2 Jul), Folksworth (three including juveniles on 19 Jul), Belham Wood (24 Jul), Baston & Langtoft GP (16 Aug) and Baston Pits on 10 Sep.
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