Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Birds - Thrush, Fieldfare & Redwing Page 5

Image Taken on 17 Jan 2011 at 15:29 Image of day on 07 Mar 2011

There is a flock of at least 200 mixed Fieldfares and Redwings feeding in the area. Here in an ash tree on our border is a mix with an unusual number of Redwings - we count 11 Redwings and 14 Fieldfares, though a couple of birds are sufficiently obscured as make it difficult to be sure. Anyway, we are more used to the ratio of Redwings to Fieldfares being more like 1:10, so this is a delight. We find that Redwings are generally less skittish than Fieldfares so maybe our presence slewed the ratio.

Ref: 20110307_df1_20110117_1529_013 11 redwings + prob 14 fieldfares(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image of day on 16 Nov 2005

At least one Redwing has been around for a few days and likes the apple peel. Here one is being chased off by a robin half its size.

Ref: 20051116_d3e_26683 fb1 robin chasing off a redwing 2005nov06_06-30-18(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 25 Mar 2008 at 05:44 Image of day on 12 Apr 2008

A brave/crazy Robin getting stroppy with a Redwing many times its weight.

Ref: 20080412_d3a_20080325_0544_125 fb2 robin threatening redwing(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 17 Aug 2015 at 17:48 Image of day on 17 Oct 2015

We found this smashed snail shell on the ground by the stone. Evidence found at the scene of the Song Thrush's 'crime'.

Ref: 20151017_df3_20150817_1748_021 snail shell broken by song thrush at fb1(r+mb id@432).jpg

Image Taken on 29 Jul 2014 at 12:42 Image of day on 11 Oct 2014

When the bird has gone we found the remains of the shell middle right, and a few fragments on the edge of the corrugated iron.

Ref: 20141011_df2_20140729_1242_175 snail shell just opened by song thrush(r+mb id@432).jpg

Image Taken on 18 Jan 2013 at 09:28 Image of day on 25 Feb 2013

4 frames from the build-up of the first snowfall. The last image unexpectedly includes a not very good view of a Redwing - not seen for many weeks.

Ref: 20130225_d5c_20130118_0928_047+1110_052_fb2 snow building up during morning (including redwing) 1-3+5 of 5 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 27 Jan 2025 at 10:13 Image of day on 07 Mar 2025

An assortment of medium sized birds passed by for portraits:-
A Song Thrush.

Ref: 20250307_e6a_20250127_1013_025_fb5 song thrush(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 07 Dec 2022 at 11:31 Image of day on 01 Jan 2023

Song Thrushes are not regular visitors at any camera site, and even more unusual to see one here at the woodland site.

Ref: 20230101_e64_20221207_1131_313_fb2 song thrush(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 28 Oct 2020 at 17:00 Image of day on 04 Dec 2020

A one-off visit by this Song Thrush.
We have not previously noted the light specks along the back.

Ref: 20201204_e63_20201028_1700_227_fb1 song thrush(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 30 Jun 2018 at 20:25 Image of day on 25 Aug 2018

Next day 50m, away from the hatched egg, what may be Mum or Dad to the hatchling.

Ref: 20180825_e64_20180630_2025_054_fb2 song thrush(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 24 Mar 2018 at 06:08 Image of day on 01 May 2018

A lovely Song Thrush.
We have found at least one of the 'Anvils' a small paving slab under an evergreen that not used for a couple of years. A week later, as we finalise this, all the snail shells have gone! We understand from a BBC documentary about eggs that some Tits and other birds crunch up snail shells in their Gizzards to absorb the Calcium to make their egg shells. We guess that one or more birds found this already smashed up resource.
A discussion on the subject can be found at George Pilkington's site at
http://nurturing-nature.co.uk/gardening-for-wildlife/birds-need-calcium-to-lay-their-eggs-where-do-they-get-it-from/

Ref: 20180501_e62_20180324_0608_074_fb5 song thrush(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 27 Oct 2014 at 08:19 Image of day on 29 Dec 2014

Breakfast time for this Song Thrush.
All of the known 'Anvil' sites are currently disused - we hope to discover where snails are now being smashed.

Ref: 20141229_e63_20141027_0819_011_fb1 song thrush(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 26 Nov 2012 at 14:29 Image of day on 24 Dec 2012

A Song Thrush. We have found one of his 'anvils' but it is in too awkward a position to photograph without disturbance.

Ref: 20121224_d45_20121126_1429_035_fb1 song thrush(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 20 Dec 2007 at 07:31 Image of day on 20 Jan 2008

The first showing this season of a Song Thrush. The stone lower left was put there in the hope he will use it as an 'anvil' for the traditional opening of snails.

Ref: 20080120_d3a_20071220_0731_046 fb2 song thrush(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 02 Mar 2006 at 06:24 Image of day on 05 Mar 2006

Don't often see a Song Thrush. Longing to photograph one banging a snail against the stone at the other site.

Ref: 20060305_d35_20060302_0624_095 fb2 song thrush(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 09 Mar 2020 at 05:56 Image of day on 29 Mar 2020

A Song Thrush takes it's selfie with elegantly arched back.

Ref: 20200329_e62_20200309_0556_192_fb5 song thrush (id only)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 17 Dec 2015 at 16:05 Image of day on 26 Jan 2016

Two consecutive images of this Song Thrush prompted us to offer this montage. Fans of the ABBA pop-group will recognise the style!

Ref: 20160126_e63_20151217_1605_042+041_fb1 song thrush (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 27 Mar 2020 at 14:41 Image of day on 12 Apr 2020

A skirmish at the meadow site here takes a more serious turn as what we think must be a Song Thrush has grabbed a male Chaffinch at the throat with the claws in some sort of territorial squabble.

Ref: 20200412_e62_20200327_1441_079_fb5 song thrush (prob) with claws grasping chaffinch male at throat (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image of day on 12 May 2005

We don't often see a pair of Song Thrush feeding together. May be good or bad news for them.

Ref: 20050512_d3e_15927 fb1 pair of song thrush 2005may09_19-48-34(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 21 May 2025 at 19:25 Image of day on 07 Jul 2025

Song Thrushes have always been occasional visitors. At this time we hadn't managed to discover this ones favourite 'anvil'.

Ref: 20250707_e63_20250521_1925_076_fb1 song thrush at hedge bottom(r+mb id@576).jpg

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