Spotted Flycatchers at Wallington, Herts, 23rd May 2026.

The churchyard at Wallington has always been a good place for Spotted Flycatchers, a sadly declining species in the UK. The church is worth a shot of its own.

Swifts, Buzzards and Red Kites were overhead and Blackcaps calling in the bushes. I was hoping one of the Flycatchers might perch on one of the gravestones, but had to settle for this Robin. 

Grey Squirrels seemed to like the barn in the garden next door!

But more unusual in North Herts, especially around Hitchin are a black version of the Grey Squirrel. I managed to get some shots of one individual. It is worth looking them up on-line.

The Spotted Flycatchers mainly showed in the conifer trees in the garden adjoining the churchyard.

The next two shots show one perched at the top, eyeing up an insect, and then intercepting it!

One came a bit closer, landing on the roof of the barn.

And finally, venturing into the churchyard.

Always a lovely place to visit. An interesting footnote is that George Orwell lived in the village for a while and wrote "Animal Farm" there in 1944!