A Spotted Flycatcher – forty years ago in my nature notebooks

We’re driving round Italy with telephoto lenses and the windows down. There’s a tiny brown bird on a branch beside us. It’s a Spotted Flycatcher:

Spotted Flycatcher - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)


It’s over forty years ago since I saw one. I was so thrilled I went straight home and drew what I remembered of it. Here’s my pencil crayon sketch from before I was a teenager:

Spotted Flycatcher - The Hall of Einar - drawing (c) David Bailey (not the)


It’s a special moment for me to see one. If only it would move just a little further along the branch.

Spotted Flycatcher - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)


But after forty years of waiting, I can’t complain. I’m too delighted to see it.

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