But - to make up for things - a lovely surprise this morning. A genuine Fieldfare spent hours under the Birdy Bistro defending and eating the apple it had found. It was alone so I guess it had been blow a bit off course as they usually arrive in flocks.
This one was obviously very hungry and vigorously chased off any Blackbird which got too close. Shirl (Shirl's Gardenwatch) wondered whether I would manage to capture any video - here it is, taken this morning:
Have a great weekend observing the wildlife around you.
Superb John.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a lone Field Fare. Good job you fed it.
Hedge rows are so important and so is planting sunflower. Tell your local farmers. Not that there will be many. Farms are run from London by holding companies more often than not.
Unfortunately Adrian I don't think I will see that Fieldfare again. Didn't see any action but a pile of grey feathers, a red patch in the snow and a missing bird tells the story.
ReplyDeleteFar too many hedges are flailed round here.
It's been a few years since I had Fieldfares in the garden John. Lovely birds.
ReplyDeleteThey are Keith. I think this is the first time one has landed in my garden.
DeleteNo mistaking that one John, well done! But oh dear! I've just seen your remark to Adrian :-( Lovely video and photos! In your defence (and mine) it was a little difficult to tell in the earlier photo.
ReplyDeleteWe have had snow falling since about 5pm yesterday! It has become disruptive now.
Yes Jan. Easy to tell the difference when they are both in view at the same time.
DeleteOnly a couple of mm of snow at daybreak and some fine snow falling these past two hours.
they sure are pretty with their speckled chests.
ReplyDeleteLovely shots John - I've never managed to get close enough to fieldfares for a decent picture... must put some apples out!
ReplyDeleteThank you Phil. I was lucky it was only a few feet from the kitchen window. It's taken a couple of weeks putting out an apple or two each day to get the close view I hoped for. Also there seems to be a lack of windfalls nearby this year so the birds don't have a wide choice.
DeleteHello again John, delighted to see you captured clear photos and video of your fieldfare visitor! Not so good if it has been a Sparrowhawk meal :-(
ReplyDeleteBeing honest, I had a slight reservation about your ID but as I wanted this to be the case I convinced myself you had a fieldfare on your bird table. As I said on my last comment, unlike Adrian, I have seen lone fieldfares here although they didn’t last long. Mm… I’m wondering if the lone ones all suffer the same fate.
I’ll take a guess that you’ve had a bit more snow this evening. Our snow only started at around 5pm too and it was a very light dusting but it has continued albeit just light snow on and off. It’s always fun to see how high the snow gets by morning – we’ve had pretty deep snow up our way in previous years. It is strangely spooky to see the coverings in parts of England and Wales when we don’t have much here. The weather tables seem to be turning :-0
Looks like we have reached the end of the snow for now Shirl. Pretty at first but a real pain getting about when it gets compressed to ice.
DeleteWe have seen single fieldfares and redwings when the weather has been bad. They come to our garden pond for water.
ReplyDeleteSome of the brown blackbirds in our garden are juveniles that haven't yet developed full adult plumage but our young males already have the yellower beak.
The area of my pond where they drink is hard to see Sue but I know a lot of birds use it.
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