Category
A
Status
Very rare
Breeding status
First Record
1976
Last Recorded
2005

Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva


Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 12/10/2012. Photo: © Royston Carré
  Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 12/10/2012 Photo: © Royston Carré (visit site)

The Red-breasted Flycatcher is a scarce autumn and spring migrant to the British Isles. Breeding in the boreal taiga and temperate zones from western Germany & southern Sweden westwards, most birds migrate eastwards to winter in India and Pakistan. A small proportion of birds move into western Europe in autumn (& a smaller number in spring) and birds have even been records in west Africa in winter.

The first Bailiwick record is of a bird seen in W.R. Thompson's garden in Alderney on 1 November 1927. A record by R. W. Llewellyn of two to three hundred birds hitting ther Casquets lighthouse on May 14 1902 (reported in Dobson) must be erroneus. The next series of records came from Sark. Two birds (one a male) were found feeding around the Seigneurie Pond on 7 October 1966. Four days later, on 11 October, two other birds were sighted at Dos d'Ane and a further bird was seen at the Seigneurie Pond on 30 October. In 1970, a bird was seen hawking at L'Ecluse wood on 4 October. Following on from these sight records, Philip Guille caught a total of 12 birds between 1971 and 1997, three in 1971, one in 1972, four in 1976, three in 1984 and one in 1986.In Alderney one bird was seen in 1973 and three on the Casquets 10-25 October 1975 (Conder). Conder also includes a record of a bird seen on 7 June. This is highly unlikely given current knowledge.

It was not until 1976 that a Red-breasted Flycatcher was recorded in Guernsey. A bird was seen at Sous l'Eglise on 16 October and since then it has become a regular autumn migrant, occurring in 15 out of 26 years since. In the 1980s Red-breasted Flycatchers were virtually annual but the numbers recorded declined in the 1990s, despite an increased number of birders.

The premier spot for this species in the Bailiwick must be La Fougeraie in Sark. This wooded valley running up from the coast of Sark has provided 12 records, followed by the Vaux de Monel in Guernsey with five records and the Casquets lighthouse with four. In Guernsey birds have occurred in scattered locations but tend to be sites where tall trees and low bushes are present. Birds have been seen at Jerbourg, Moulin Huet, Le Gouffre, Pleinmont, St Sampson's Marais, Silbe Nature Reserve, Sous l'Eglise, Vimeira (Le Foulon) and in Herm.

Red-breasted Flycatchers are seen in a narrow window in autumn, and occur throughout October and the first half of November. There is definite peak in records in the third week of October (15th-21st). There is one spring record of a bird seen by the RAF Ornithological Society in Herm on 30 April 1984 and a very early autumn record of a bird at Vimiera on 14 August 1977. In 1988, four records were recieved, one at Saints on 13 October and then on the 14th birds were seen at Havelet, Moulin Huet and Trinity Cottages.



View all photos (29)
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 12/10/2012. Photo: © Royston Carré
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 12/10/2012. Photo: © Royston Carré (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Mark Guppy
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Mark Guppy (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 13/10/2012. Photo: © Tracey Henry
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 13/10/2012. Photo: © Tracey Henry (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 12/10/2012. Photo: © Royston Carré
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 12/10/2012. Photo: © Royston Carré (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 30/10/2017. Photo: © Rod Ferbrache
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 30/10/2017. Photo: © Rod Ferbrache (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 12/10/2012. Photo: © Royston Carré
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 12/10/2012. Photo: © Royston Carré (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue des Valniquets on 30/10/2017. Photo: ©  Rockdweller
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue des Valniquets on 30/10/2017. Photo: © Rockdweller (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Mark Guppy
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Mark Guppy (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 12/10/2012. Photo: © Anthony Loaring
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 12/10/2012. Photo: © Anthony Loaring (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Chris Bale
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Chris Bale (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 30/10/2017. Photo: © Rod Ferbrache
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 30/10/2017. Photo: © Rod Ferbrache (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 30/10/2017. Photo: © Rod Ferbrache
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 30/10/2017. Photo: © Rod Ferbrache (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 30/10/2017. Photo: © Rod Ferbrache
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 30/10/2017. Photo: © Rod Ferbrache (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 13/10/2012. Photo: © Chris Bale
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 13/10/2012. Photo: © Chris Bale (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Pezeries [PEZ] on 15/10/2017. Photo: © Anthony Loaring
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Pezeries [PEZ] on 15/10/2017. Photo: © Anthony Loaring (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Pezeries [PEZ] on 15/10/2017. Photo: © Wayne Turner
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Pezeries [PEZ] on 15/10/2017. Photo: © Wayne Turner (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 30/10/2016. Photo: © Andy Marquis
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 30/10/2016. Photo: © Andy Marquis (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Chris Bale
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Chris Bale (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Rod Ferbrache
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Rod Ferbrache (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 31/10/2016. Photo: © Rod Ferbrache
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 31/10/2016. Photo: © Rod Ferbrache (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 12/10/2012. Photo: © Anthony Loaring
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 12/10/2012. Photo: © Anthony Loaring (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 30/10/2016. Photo: © Mark Guppy
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 30/10/2016. Photo: © Mark Guppy (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 30/10/2016. Photo: © Mark Guppy
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue de Valniquets [RDV] on 30/10/2016. Photo: © Mark Guppy (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Mike Cunningham
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Mike Cunningham (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 13/10/2012. Photo: © Mike Cunningham
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 13/10/2012. Photo: © Mike Cunningham (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Mike Cunningham
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Mike Cunningham (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Chris Bale
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Icart [ICA] on 27/10/2012. Photo: © Chris Bale (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue des Valniquets on 30/10/2017. Photo: ©  Rockdweller
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Rue des Valniquets on 30/10/2017. Photo: © Rockdweller (visit site)

Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 12/10/2012. Photo: © Royston Carré
Red-breasted Flycatcher photographed at Vaux de Monel [MON] on 12/10/2012. Photo: © Royston Carré (visit site)



View database records (54)
Red-breasted Flycatcher Trinity 13/10/1995 14/10/1995 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Vaux de Monel 19/10/1996 20/10/1996 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Pleinmont 20/10/2000 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets 22/10/2000 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Pleinmont 12/9/2002 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Vaux de Monel 17/10/2005 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Vaux de Monel [MON] 12/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Vaux de Monel [MON] 12/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Vaux de Monel [MON] 12/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Vaux de Monel [MON] 12/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Vaux de Monel [MON] 12/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Vaux de Monel [MON] 13/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Vaux de Monel [MON] 13/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Vaux de Monel [MON] 13/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Vaux de Monel [MON] 13/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Icart [ICA] 27/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Icart 27/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Icart [ICA] 27/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Icart [ICA] 27/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Icart [ICA] 27/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Icart [ICA] 27/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Icart [ICA] 28/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Icart [ICA] 28/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Icart [ICA] 28/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Icart 29/10/2012 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Pleinmont [PLE] 12/10/2014 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Mannez Quarry 7/10/2016 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 30/10/2016 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 30/10/2016 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 30/10/2016 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 30/10/2016 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 30/10/2016 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 30/10/2016 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 30/10/2016 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 30/10/2016 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 31/10/2016 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 31/10/2016 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 31/10/2016 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 31/10/2016 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 1/11/2016 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Mannez Quarry 24/9/2017 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Mannez Quarry 24/9/2017 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Pezeries [PEZ] 15/10/2017 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Pezeries [PEZ] 15/10/2017 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Pezeries [PEZ] 15/10/2017 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Vaux de Monel [MON] 15/10/2017 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Pezeries [PEZ] 15/10/2017 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Vaux de Monel [MON] 16/10/2017 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Pezeries [PEZ] 16/10/2017 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Pezeries [PEZ] 17/10/2017 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 28/10/2017 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 30/10/2017 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher Rue de Valniquets [RDV] 30/10/2017 1
Red-breasted Flycatcher St. Germain NR 25/10/2022 1