Sitting in a friend's garden in the Wantage area today, I spotted a bird I've never seen before. I didn't manage to catch a photo, but Merlin's step-by-step ID brought me to the spotted flycatcher which looked like a very good visual match. I know they've occasionally been seen in the Wantage area before, but since they're quite rare I wanted to run it by others before adding it to my list! Could anyone offer any alternatives based on this description, or could I be right?

It was briefly perched on an outer tree branch in a quiet and very green residential area, bigger than a robin but smaller than a blackbird and very slim. It was buff/grey-brown with a light, lightly speckled chest and a slim, dark beak. Unfortunately it didn't stick around long enough for me to hear any calls. I'm fairly confident it wasn't a thrush, it wasn't as darkly coloured or strongly speckled, and was definitely slimmer.

Thanks in advance!

Weekly chat thread

Happy weekend everyone!

Let us know which birds you've spotted over the last few days, or whatever's on your mind about birds right now!

Have you seen any interesting articles, or learnt something new? Have you visited a reserve recently?

Strange question but over the last couple of weeks we have noticed a male blackbird and a female house sparrow that visit our garden and seem to be together all the time, they arrive together and are never more than a few feet apart while feeding and then they leave together, anyone else ever seen something like this?

Bird is mobile, can fly, parents responding to its calls and I’ve seen it being fed. I know that bald heads can be a result of pecking/bullying type behaviour but should I be worried? Couldn’t get a photo but will add one if I manage to get one.

Hello all,

We were planni g to go to Bempton Cliffs during rhe heatwave. Is it doable? Too hot?

I would appreciate some advice. We have a 5yo that lives puffins.

Thank you