THE SPOTTED FLYCATCHER 
MUSCICAPA GRISOLA 
Loca, names in surrounding counties: ‘ Wall-bird ” 
(Essex). 
Status 1n British AvirAuNA: A summer visitor to all 
suitable localities. 
RapiAL DisTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: Although so closely associated with the country, 
the Spotted Flycatcher is a regular and fairly common 
summer visitor to many spots even in the central districts 
of the Metropolitan area. I have seen this species in St. 
James’s Park, and it may possibly breed in the grounds 
of Buckingham Palace. It nests regularly in Hyde Park 
and Kensington Gardens—in Rotten Row in the former 
and near the Tea Pavilion in the latter—and I have also 
records from Regent’s Park during the breeding season. 
I am not aware of its breeding in Battersea Park, although 
it may very possibly do so, but it nests regularly at 
Dulwich, Tooting, and Balham. In the western and 
northern suburbs Barnes, Chiswick, Dollis Hill, Hamp- 
stead, and Highgate may be mentioned. In the more 
rural suburbs the bird of course becomes commoner, 
and I can include Tooting, Wimbledon, Richmond, Kew, 
Osterley, Hanwell, Acton, Ealing, Horsenden, Twyford, 
Wembley, Kingsbury, Finchley, Hendon, Barnet, Enfield, 
Epping, Wanstead, Ilford, Greenwich, Dartford, Bromley, 
Croydon, Mitcham, Merton, and Kingston as regular 
haunts. Beyond these limits it becomes unnecessary to 
specify. 
A stroll in Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens during 
the summer will be sufficient to make the acquaintance 
of this sombre little bird. It is a late migrant, not reach- 
ing its English haunts before the first week in May, leav- 
ing them again in September. The Spotted Flycatcher 
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