Black Redstarts in trees? (1 Viewer)

[KenM]

Over the years I’ve seen numerous Black Redstarts, locally three times on forest land - gantry round the circus big top once when it was on the plain, once on a small hawthorn on said and once on scaffold in some stables adjacent.
The rest have been in the City of London, invariably just as in previous cases, very briefly high up on the roofs, guttering and chimney pots.
However on Sunday I bumped into between 3-4 birds interacting in trees mostly in the crown of a large Copper Beech and a smaller Oak in the city.
They were often perched up close to the trunks and on the limbs, often sallying out after insects in front of the glass windows, this activity lasted at least an hour.
Seeing them out of context was a first for me, indeed behaviour was not unlike Common Redstart, anybody else seen them in the trees?

Cheers

 

[Bewick]

Yes, often in France. Often see them flycatching from trees in gardens and small parks in rural villages.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Frequently. Black Redstart is often more common in Lithuania than Common Redstart, and far more so on my land for example. In city areas, it is much like elsewhere that they are primarily seen on buildings etc, but around my house for example there are no structures other than my house, well and small fenceline aside my lawn - Black Redstarts regularly use all of these, but also regularly utilize the abundant bushery/trees, hawking from them or flitting down to the lawn and then returning to the bushes/trees.

 

[KenM]

Wondering if it’s more usual on the Continent than Blighty?

 

[Jos Stratford]

Wondering if it’s more usual on the Continent than Blighty?

I think it more due to abundance and habitat - it is mostly an uncommon species restricted the built environment in Britain, whereas across its main range in Europe it occurs in a broader array of habitats - where it occurs in habitats in Europe similar to those in UK, behaviour is broadly the same. However, where it occurs in other habitats in Europe, so we see a more frequent practice of using alternative perching places.

 

[KenM]

The only other habitat where I’ve seen them was on rocky scree at foothills to Mont Blanc. Clearly a species with a very selective habitat requirement much dependant on range and density. 👍

 

[Jinac]

On my land in south of France, I've lost of theses all the year, on my pines and polars, and as often on my roof.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Clearly a species with a very selective habitat requirement much dependant on range and density. 👍

Or the opposite, rather catholic in its habitat requirement - preferring rock/scree or buildings where available, but happy to take what's available where not.

A few hundred metres from my land, Black Redstarts also occur and I generally see these on the roofs of old barns and outbuildings, but these don't exist around my house, so alternate between my veranda and the adjacent trees.

In all cases, though they can choose quite closed individual trees or bushes, the general habitat does need to be fairly open however.

 

[KenM]

Or the opposite, rather catholic in its habitat requirement - preferring rock/scree or buildings where available, but happy to take what's available where not.

A few hundred metres from my land, Black Redstarts also occur and I generally see these on the roofs of old barns and outbuildings, but these don't exist around my house, so alternate between my veranda and the adjacent trees.

In all cases, though they can choose quite closed individual trees or bushes, the general habitat does need to be fairly open however.

Certainly more catholic on the continent, but less so it might appear in the UK, if the lack of domestic responses is anything to measure by.

 

[angusmcoatup]

Over the years I’ve seen numerous Black Redstarts, locally three times on forest land - gantry round the circus big top once when it was on the plain, once on a small hawthorn on said and once on scaffold in some stables adjacent.
The rest have been in the City of London, invariably just as in previous cases, very briefly high up on the roofs, guttering and chimney pots.
However on Sunday I bumped into between 3-4 birds interacting in trees mostly in the crown of a large Copper Beech and a smaller Oak in the city.
They were often perched up close to the trunks and on the limbs, often sallying out after insects in front of the glass windows, this activity lasted at least an hour.
Seeing them out of context was a first for me, indeed behaviour was not unlike Common Redstart, anybody else seen them in the trees?

Cheers

I’ve been seeing at least one fly catching daily from a tall tree opposite my desk. There’s a couple using the avenue of Mulberry in the garden too. A male Stonechat is regularly using the same desk view vantage point. Black Redstart numbers are very impressive this autumn, absolutely everywhere across town and the margins.

Almost completely off topic, I once (mid 90’s) watched a male bird singing at dawn from a Mornington Crescent TV ariel as the artist Frank Auerbach, who passed away last week, painted a few metres from me. The bird came to mind when I saw his obituary.

 

[KenM]

I’ve been seeing at least one fly catching daily from a tall tree opposite my desk. There’s a couple using the avenue of Mulberry in the garden too. A male Stonechat is regularly using the same desk view vantage point. Black Redstart numbers are very impressive this autumn, absolutely everywhere across town and the margins.

Almost completely off topic, I once (mid 90’s) watched a male bird singing at dawn from a Mornington Crescent TV ariel as the artist Frank Auerbach, who passed away last week, painted a few metres from me. The bird came to mind when I saw his obituary.

Whereabouts are you Angus?👍

 

[angusmcoatup]

Whereabouts are you Angus?👍

South West Turkey

 

[KenM]

South West Turkey

Certainly Continental.👍

 

[angusmcoatup]

Whereabouts are you Angus?👍

Certainly Continental.👍

The male birds I see here have the white wing panel of the European ssp. I only recall a couple which I assumed to be the Turkish Ssp which I believe are more usual to the east.

 

[KenM]

The male birds I see here have the white wing panel of the European ssp. I only recall a couple which I assumed to be the Turkish Ssp which I believe are more usual to the east.

Yes, the UK race seems to be gibraltariensis, albeit the first time that I’ve been able see any real detail on the plumage, as most previous sightings have been mostly silhouetted high on a roof top. (now you see it, now you don’t!)🤣