The Spotted Flycatcher is a streaky brown bird that often goes unnoticed at first glance.

But its lively hunting behaviour, darting from a perch to snatch insects mid-flight before returning to the same spot, has long made it a favourite among bird enthusiasts.

A baby Spotted Flycatcher in Teesdale, County Durham (Image: Jacqueline Truby Newby) While adult Spotted Flycatchers are already a scarce sight across the UK, spotting a fledgling is especially exciting.

Classified as Red-listed under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5, their population has suffered serious declines due to habitat loss, reduced insect numbers, and changes in land use.

The appearance of a young bird in Teesdale indicates successful breeding in the area, a positive sign for a species struggling to hold on in Britain.

A baby Spotted Flycatcher in Teesdale, County Durham (Image: Jacqueline Truby Newby) The sighting was made by Northern Echo Camera Club member, Jacqueline Truby Newby.

Spotted Flycatchers are late migrants, typically returning to the UK in May or June from their wintering grounds in tropical Africa.

They stay only briefly, just long enough to raise their chicks, before leaving again in August or September.

Their preference for open woodlands, farmland edges, and large gardens makes them reliant on insect-rich habitats.

Conservation groups are hailing the sighting as an encouraging sign.

The Spotted Flycatcher is also a Priority Species under the UK Biodiversity Framework, highlighting the urgent need to protect its habitats and food sources.