Red-listed spotted flycatcher has been spotted in Pencoyd

The spotted flycatcher was seen in Pencoyd by Ian John Buttriss on Monday.

His sighting was uploaded to the goingbirding.co.uk website.

The spotted flycatcher, a small summer migrant, makes its way to the UK from sub-Saharan Africa each spring.

Recognised for its unique hunting style, the bird perches quietly before swiftly catching flying insects mid-air and returning to its spot.

While it remains widespread across much of Britain, the spotted flycatcher's population has plummeted by about 90 per cent since the late 1960s.

This decline has resulted in the bird's inclusion on the UK Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern, indicating the highest level of conservation concern.

The British Trust for Ornithology estimates that around 42,000 breeding territories exist in the UK today, making the spotted flycatcher a rare sight for many younger birdwatchers.

Once commonly seen in towns and villages nationwide, the bird now finds its home in mature gardens, orchards, churchyards, parks, and woodland edges, feeding on flies, moths, butterflies, and other airborne insects.