TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS SPECIES

OBSERVATION REPORT

HERE IS THE STORY OF THIS EVENT.

The Spotted Flycatcher, a migratory bird that spends the summer with us in southwest France (among other places), has decided this year to build its nest under our front porch!
We discovered the nest on May 27, 2025, while returning home in the late afternoon.
Since then, the female has occupied the nest regularly and seems to be getting used to our frequent comings and goings in this area. We are very careful, walking slowly, quietly, and without sudden movements, but it won't be easy for a whole month, the normal duration of a breeding cycle for this species.
We will nevertheless do everything possible to preserve this beautiful gift of Nature and ensure that the chicks can leave the nest on the scheduled date, normally around the end of June.
Photos will be uploaded as and when possible, as we don't want to disturb the bird.

Today, on June 2nd, we looked inside the nest while the female was away. We were delighted to discover four pretty green eggs with brown speckles. We didn't touch anything, of course, and the female returned two minutes later to take her place in the nest.
We left her alone during the incubation period, which lasts about 13 days.
Two days ago, on June 10th, the female seemed nervous. She was pacing back and forth between the nest and the vegetation near the porch, and then returning immediately. The very stormy weather seemed to worry her, even though the nest was sheltered from the rain.
The next day, June 11th, we heard four soft little calls near the porch. Just enough time to look, and we saw the male passing by unhurriedly.
For us, there was no longer any doubt, and this morning June 12th, while the female was away, I took some photos of the nest by climbing a stepladder. There, I discovered three chicks and an egg that had remained at the bottom. Will it give birth to the fourth chick or not? Time will tell.
On June 13th 2025, they have already grown up and the remaining egg is not visible.
Two days later, on June 15, the chicks have grown even more. Feathers are beginning to appear on their wings.
In the late afternoon, the female was about two metres from the nest, allowing some photos.
On June 16, the feathers have grown a lot compared to yesterday, especially on the wings.
Both parents feed the young all day long with insects.
Today, June 17, the weather is warm and the heads of the chicks appear on the rim of the nest. Both down and feathers are growing, and their eyes seem to open slightly.
Both male and female are present and guarding the nest very closely. I leave them alone.
On June 18, the feathers are clearly visible, and the nest appears very small !
On June 19, the nest is too small for the chicks! The feathers are now well developed and the colours of their plumage appear perfectly. They are magnificent.
Same scene today, June 20th. The end of this episode at the nest seems to be coming to an end...
Today June 21, the nest appears really too small for three chicks. But they are very quiet, and the adults are in the vicinity of the nest, bringing food to the young birds.
On June 22nd, the chicks were still in the nest this morning, waiting to be fed by both parents who were fluttering in the vegetation near the nest.
This afternoon, the adults seemed somewhat agitated, which could indicate an imminent departure from the nest...
But at the end of the day, they were still there, calm and crammed into a nest that was now too small!
And finally, judging the nest too small for three chicks, one of them went to settle right next to the nest where the female had left some remnants of vegetation.
Was this intentional???
On June 23rd, the three chicks were once again side by side in the nest. They'd grown even bigger!
The adults were feeding them, so I wasn't staying.
One adult watches over the nest while the other hunts for insects.
This evening around 6 p.m., the chicks were all standing facing the garden. They seemed close to fledging.
Half an hour later, one of them had left, probably the firstborn. The adults were still making their soft little calls, no doubt to encourage their offspring.
But at 8:30 p.m., two chicks were still in the nest. They will probably leave tomorrow morning, or a little later in the evening.
We're leaving them alone so as not to stress them out further!
This morning, June 24th, everyone left. All that remained was the nest with the unhatched egg. It was a wonderful observation.

POUR EN SAVOIR PLUS SUR CETTE ESPECE

RAPPORT D'OBSERVATION

VOICI LE RÉCIT DE CET ÉVÉNEMENT.

Le Gobemouche gris, un oiseau migrateur qui passe l'été chez nous dans le sud-ouest de la France (entre autres) a décidé cette année d'installer son nid sous notre porche d'entrée!
Nous avons découvert le nid le 27 mai 2025 en rentrant chez nous en fin d'après-midi.
Depuis cette date, la femelle occupe le nid régulièrement et semble s'habituer à nos allées et venues, fréquentes à cet endroit. Nous faisons très attention, marchant lentement, sans bruit et sans mouvements brusques, mais cela ne sera pas facile pendant tout un mois, durée normale d'un cycle de reproduction chez cette espèce.
Nous allons néanmoins faire tout notre possible pour préserver ce joli cadeau de la Nature et faire en sorte que les oisillons puissent sortir du nid à la date prévue, normalement vers la fin du mois de juin.
Les photos seront déposées au fur et à mesure, en fonction des possibilités car nous ne voulons pas déranger l'oiseau.

Aujourd'hui 2 juin, nous avons regardé l'intérieur du nid pendant une absence de la femelle. Nous avons été ravis de découvrir quatre jolis œufs verts tachetés de brun. Nous n'avons bien sûr touché à rien, et la femelle est revenue deux minutes plus tard reprendre sa place au nid.
Nous l’avons laissée tranquille pendant l’incubation qui dure environ 13 jours.
Il y a deux jours, le 10 juin, la femelle semblait nerveuse. Elle faisait des allées et venues entre le nid et la végétation qui se trouve près du porche, et elle revenait aussitôt. Le temps très orageux semblait l'inquiéter, bien que le nid soit à l'abri de la pluie.
Le lendemain, le 11 juin, nous avons entendu quatre petits cris doux près du porche. Juste le temps de regarder et nous avons vu le mâle qui passait par là sans se presser.
Pour nous, le doute n'était plus permis, et ce matin 12 juin, lors d'une absence de la femelle, j'ai fait quelques photos du nid en montant sur un escabeau. Là, j'ai découvert trois oisillons et un œuf qui était resté au fond. Donnera-t-il naissance au quatrième poussin ou pas? L'avenir nous le dira.
Le jour suivant, le 13 juin, ils ont déjà grandi et l’œuf restant n'est plus visible.
Deux jours plus tard, le 15 juin, les poussins ont encore grandi. On commence à voir la naissance des plumes sur les ailes.
En fin d'après-midi, la femelle s'est posée à deux mètres du nid pour observer ses petits, permettant ainsi quelques photos.
Aujourd'hui 16 juin, les plumes ont beaucoup poussé par rapport à hier, notamment sur les ailes.
Les parents les nourrissent toute la journée avec des insectes.
Aujourd'hui 17 juin, il fait chaud et les têtes des poussins apparaissent au bord du nid. Le duvet et les plumes poussent, et les yeux semblent s'ouvrir légèrement.
Mâle et femelle sont présents et surveillent le nid de très près. Je les laisse tranquille.
Le 18 juin, les plumes sont bien visibles et le nid paraît très petit !
Le 19 juin, le nid est trop petit pour les poussins ! Leurs plumes sont maintenant bien développées et les couleurs de leur plumage ressortent parfaitement. Ils sont magnifiques.
Même scène aujourd'hui 20 juin. Cet épisode au nid semble toucher à sa fin...
Aujourd'hui, 21 juin, le nid semble vraiment trop petit pour trois oisillons. Mais ils sont très calmes, et les adultes sont à proximité du nid, apportant régulièrement de la nourriture.
Le 22 juin au matin, les oisillons étaient encore au nid, attendant d'être nourris par les deux parents qui voltigeaient dans la végétation proche.
Cet après-midi, les adultes semblent quelque peu agités, ce qui pourrait indiquer une sortie du nid prochaine...
Mais en fin de journée, ils sont toujours là, calmes et entassés dans un nid désormais inadapté!
Et finalement, jugeant le nid trop étroit pour trois oisillons, l'un d'entre eux est allé s'installer juste à côté du nid où la femelle avait laissé des restes de végétation.
Etait-ce intentionnel???
Dans la journée du 23 juin, les trois oisillons sont à nouveau côte à côte dans le nid. Ils ont encore grandi et leur plumage est superbe!
Les adultes sont en train de les nourrir, donc, je ne reste pas.
L'un des adultes surveille le nid tandis que l'autre chasse des insectes.
Ce soir vers 18 heures, les oisillons étaient tous debout face au jardin. L'envol semblait proche.
Une demi-heure plus tard, l'un d'entre eux était parti, sans doute le premier né. Les adultes émettaient toujours leurs petits cris doux, sans doute pour encourager leur progéniture.
Mais à 20h30, deux oisillons sont toujours au nid. Leur départ se fera sans doute demain matin, ou un peu plus tard dans la soirée.
Nous les laissons tranquilles afin de ne pas les stresser davantage!
Ce matin 24 juin, tout le monde est parti. Reste le nid avec l'oeuf non éclos. Ce fut une belle observation.

Nest-site	Female at nest	1416-Female at nest	Female at nest
1428-Female at nest	1426-Female at nest	1423-Female at nest	101319-Nest with eggs
101316-Nest with eggs	1463-Spotted Flycatcher in the vicinity of the nest	Nest with three chicks	Not a very good image, but we can see the fourth egg and the three chicks
1461-Spotted Flycatcher in the vicinity of the nest	130140-Chicks on June 13th 2025	On June 13th 2025, they have already grown up	1458-Spotted Flycatcher in the vicinity of the nest
103022-Two days later, on June 15, the chicks have grown even more.	Feathers were beginning to appear on their wings.	1455-Spotted Flycatcher in the vicinity of the nest	132334-The feathers have grown a lot compared to yesterday.
The feathers have grown a lot compared to yesterday.	132455-The feathers have grown a lot compared to yesterday.	1479-Adult near the nest.	1468-Heads are starting to appear. We can see three beaks.
1475-Heads are starting to appear. The weather is hot today, they need air.	1477-Heads are starting to appear. A little nap !	1478-Adult near the nest.	125448-Resting in the nest.
125626-A few more days and it will be the great adventure!	125602-The feathers are clearly visible.	1482-Chicks in the nest looking for some fresh air.	1481-Chicks in the nest looking for some fresh air
160409-Close up	160418-Close up	160432-The nest is definitely too small !	1490-Three small, well-aligned beaks
1487-Three small, well-aligned beaks, and the eyes are wide open.	144606-Their plumage is really very beautiful.	1499-Adult near the nest.	133833-Close up. The chicks recognize me and remain calm.
1497-Adult near the nest.	133712-Lack of space !!!	1500-Adult near the nest.	083717-Chicks at nest.
1522-Adult in the surrounding of the nest-site.	1539-Adult in the surrounding of the nest-site.	1524-Still calm and awake.	1544-Adult watching over the chicks.
1545-Still here !	083723-Maybe it will be for tomorrow?	1546-Wait, wait, wait! Good things come to those who wait.	195615-Finally, some space... Good night!
1576-Adult near the nest.	1553-Chicks waiting for food.	1563-Chicks waiting for food. They are very attentive.	1570-The adult remains in visual contact with both nest and chicks.
091232-Siblings reunited.	1575-One is very present while the other hunts for insects.	1568-The other is not far away.	1585-They're ready to go. Good luck!
1594-They're ready to go. Good luck!	1596-They're ready to go. Good luck!	1590-They're ready to go. Good luck!	081758-All that remained was the nest with the unhatched egg. It was a wonderful observation.

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