Pied Flycatcher

A quick visit to Croft Hill yielded a longer than expected stay and a lovely female/1st-winter Pied Flycatcher.

Croft Hill has proven to be attractive to this species over the years. Below are all the records I'm aware of from south-west Leicestershire (some might be south Leicestershire but they fall within my personal boundary for south-west Leicestershire.

1.            Pied Flycatcher: a locally scarce passage migrant.

1901: one at Cotesbach Hall on April 19th (Birds of Leicestershire & Rutland).

1912: a male at Burbage on April 28th (Birds of Leicestershire & Rutland).

1944: a pair at Kirby Mallory from June 6th to 13th (Birds of Leicestershire & Rutland).

1950 –1954: during the period five singles were recorded on Croft Hill (Eric Pochin).

1961: one at Higham Grange on June 5th (Birds of Leicestershire & Rutland).

1978: a pair at Market Bosworth on May 3rd (Birds of Leicestershire & Rutland).

1986: one at Cadeby Quarry on August 17th (DT).

1996: one atBurbage Outwoods on September 27th (ABa).

2000: a female at Fosse Meadows on July 25th (GER).

2004: a male on Croft Hill on April 24th (CDB, ABa).

2008: a male on Croft Hill on April 18th (DT), plus two female/immature at the same site during September: one from 8th to 10th (NWH et al) and another on the 27th (ABa, CDB).

2012: female/immature at Croft Hill on September2nd (ABa).

2015: female/immature ‘types’ at Croft Hill on August 7th (CDB, ABa, RBa) and August 16th (CDB, ABa).

2016: female/immature at Croft Hill on August 21st (CDB, ABa, DT).

2017: female/immature at Croft Hill on July 30th (ABa, CDB) and a male on August 19th (CDB).

2019: female/immature at Croft Hill on August 24th (CDB et al.).