User comments

Annabelle Tipper
I love this time of year because flocks of migrating birds can regularly be seen and heard flying above my home. If I go into the garden, I always keep watch and listen carefully. A few weeks ago, I heard the unmistakable sound of Fieldfares calling and saw about 100 of these birds. There have also been various kinds of geese on the move. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I'm woken up by the honking of the geese and it always makes me smile when they return to this part of the world. It just goes to show that you don't have to travel far to experience the wonder of migration. This subject has always fascinated me and I find it amazing that so many creatures make such spectacular journeys each year. I have listened to every single programme in your series and I hope that you will return in 2009 with more incredible stories. LOCATION: 53.716702,-1.850000 DATE: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:37:50 UTC

Carole Kinnersly
I am over the moon, 7.30 a.m. 3rd July 2008 just seen my first Hummingbird Hawk Moth of the year and it has homed in on my bed of verbena that I always plant especially for it!! All my husband said was "That didn't stay long", typical glass half empty man!!Carole LOCATION: 49.4646,-2.5653 DATE: Thu, 3 Jul 2008 07:02:36 UTC

Marylyn Mason
Our house martins have only just arrived in the past two days and have started to build a nest at this late stage in the season. LOCATION: 53.0214,-0.6070 DATE: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 10:28:29 UTC

Jane Markham
I'm pleased to report spotted flycatchers in my garden on the edge of Otmoor. I think there is a pair although I've not seen them together. We have had them nest here in the past but this is the first time in five years I've spotted (forgive the pun) them. They used to nest in in a climbing rose against a wall - and for some reason I forget we named one of them Carrington! I'm not sure where their nest is this year but they have a favourite perch on an old beam jutting out from an old barn and they dart about in short bursts catching insects before returning to it. They sometimes sit there for several minutes at a time. LOCATION: 51.8290,-1.2360 DATE: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:35:19 UTC

Dora Almy (Glastonbury)
Listened to today's programme and was surprised to hear that no one had yet seen any spotted flycatchers. I contacted you last week to say I have a pair nesting on the house- there are four eggs and so far all is well, I am nervous as in previous years cats have attacked my blackbirds nesting in a similar position, although the flycatchers are in a less vulnerable position directly above a window. So fingers crossed this is the first time they have nested here. I have also seen several house martins nesting on a pub in the Mendips. LOCATION: 51.1449,-2.7164 DATE: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:08:42 GMT

Neil Cooper
A family of four spotted flycatcher chicks flew their nest on Saturday 21st June. I'm hoping they will havea second brood as it's still early. Near Modbury, South Hams, Devon. PL21 0SX LOCATION: 50.3428,-3.8480 DATE: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:44:44 GMT

Sue Edwards
When my daughter was at Gordonstoun school in Moray, Scotland, there was a spotted flycatcher nesting in a climbing rose bush against the wall of Plewlands House, one of the girls' boarding houses. I've got photos of the nestlings sitting waiting for the parents to come back with food. These birds sat tight, near the front entrance to the house, with girls coming in and out - a hive of activity - and it didn't seem to bother them. It might be worth ringing Plewlands House and asking the housemistress if the spotted flycatchers are still nesting there. The number will be on the Gordonstoun website. (Plewlands was Zara Phillips boarding house!) LOCATION: 51.500000,-0.583300 DATE: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:34:51 UTC

dona haycraft
A pair of spotted flycatchers nested a couple of weeks ago in the ancient yew at the bottom of the garden.I watched them from the window of my shed as the female sat on the nest. Then one day they were gone. We have a lot of hawks up in Suffolk and I feared the worst. But looking carefully roundthe deserted nest there was not a trace of eggs or feathers or disturbance. Hopefully they all found a safer new home with the hatched chicks. Any ideas? A delightful bird, new in the garden and I am sorry if they are endangered and we did nothing to increase the flocks. LOCATION: 50.599998,-2.450000 DATE: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:21:18 GMT

Malcolm and Shirley Tunley
We have had house martins here (Ceredigion, Wales) for many years. Last year there were fewer by far. This year the old nests have been taken over by sparrows. No sign of any house martins. LOCATION: 52.4443,-4.0320 DATE: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:40:10 GMT

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