Local Birds and Wildlife News

By REVEREND HUGH LINN

Last month, there were several mentions on Facebook of a large, impressive looking Owl, having been seen and heard around Rossett and Burton. The bird was photographed by Stephen Sykes, who identified it as a European Eagle Owl. Eagle Owls spotted in the British Isles are usually escapees from captivity. If any of our readers are able to provide more information about sightings of this bird, I can be contacted via EssentialsMAG and I'll pass details of possible sightings to the British Trust for Ornithology. The attached photo (taken in Bulgaria many years ago), where these birds are resident, may be useful to aid identification.

During my time as Rector of Eccleston and Pulford, I had the privilege of witnessing the last record of breeding Hawfinches in Cheshire. The birds used to bring their newly fledged young to feast on wild cherries in the adjacent wood. One day, I was accosted by a lady in Chester with the greeting “Aren't you that vicar with the funny birds in your garden?” (my only claim to fame!).

Another species that is fast decreasing in numbers is the Spotted Flycatcher. In recent years, the UK breeding population has decreased by 89% and is now red listed as an endangered species. Twenty years ago, we had two pairs nesting in the Rectory garden and there were several more dotted around the village. One of our regular pairs occupied a space created by a missing brick in an outbuilding. Locally, Spotted Flycatchers have become scarcer.

One pair nested successfully in an outbuilding on Burton's Rosemary Lane in 2014. This year, a pair of these Sparrowsized summer migrants are settled in Rossett churchyard. In previous years, they have also bred successfully in Bruera Church porch. Adult Spotted Flycatchers, not quite as their name suggests, are streaked rather than spotted. Their favourite food is flies which they catch in flight having taken off from a convenient observation perch.

The latter part of July has seen a definite increase in butterflies and dragonflies spotted in local gardens. Along with ubiquitous white butterflies, our garden has hosted Commas, Speckled Woods, Peacocks, Red Admirals, Small Coppers and Gatekeepers.