I've always had a bit of a soft spot for the Fieldfare. Seen well, they are a patchwork of colours and textures, with russety back, grey rump and head, white belly, and sharp-chevroned chest on a bed of soft orange. This snowy spell I've had the opportunity to get to know them that bit better!
I normally never see them where I live in Sussex, but this last week, arriving on the coat-tails of the Redwings, I started to hear them over the house, their 'chack-ack' call redolent of winter walks in the fields where I grew up in the Midlands. Indeed, Fieldfare means 'traveller of the fields' from the old Anglo-Saxon.
Then they began to get more desperate, or bold, or both, coming down into my trees (left) and then to cotoneaster berries that the local Blackbirds clearly felt were not suitable for consumption. But they made no attempt to come down for any of the fat or seed I put out.
I went for the 'cut up apple on the snow' option and, ta da!, down they came (right, on my frozen pond). At one time there were 15 in the garden, and a riot ensued as one particularly bolshie Fieldfare tried to lay claim to three pieces of apple at one time, attempting to shoo off Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Redwings, cocking and fanning his black tail like a pumped up miniature Capercaillie.
Needless to say, he couldn't be in three places at once, and many a shy bird managed to nick a piece of apple while he wasn't watching, while he barely managed to take a break from his posturing to eat.
All in all, this past week has been quite a thrill, seeing all these unusual visitors finding such satisfaction in my garden. But of course what it really goes to show is how in weather like this, life is oh so tough for birds, and us garden-owners can actaully make a difference.
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If you want to drop by my RSPB wildlife gardening blog, it is updated every Friday, and I'd love to see you there - www.rspb.org.uk/community/blogs/hfw
We too have been inundated with Fielfares and Redwings. We live in a rural part of Guernsey and every year see large flocks of Redwings. I counted over 70 for the Big Garden Bird Watch last year. This year they have arrived in similar numbers (Unfortunately none on the 31st!) accompanied by equal numbers of Fieldfares and some huge flocks of Lapwings and a few Golden Plovers. The cold snap made for some very interesting ornithology but now they seem to have vanished once more from whence they came!
During the snow the mysterious Field Fare arrived - took a couple of days to identify - who took up residence locally and adopted the coneaster bush/tree and valiantly chased every other bird away who tried to nick any of the berries, followed a couple of days later by two Red Wings
All three travellers moved on as soon as the snow vanished
We also had in the garden two robins who seemed to be tolerating each other and am delighted to report that I have spotted one Wren who made it through the bad weather
I too have had lots of lovely Fieldfare visitors this winter. I live in Anglesey, right on the edge of the sand dunes and fields. Also there have been flocks of lapwings every day since the first snow. Also woodcocks are now a frequent visitor. I have a pair of red legged partridges that come every morning and sit by my door waiting for breakfast. Wonderful!
We live in a 14 year old house in a new development outside Ipswich, Suffolk so our bird population has only been settling in over the last 2-3 years. We were amazed to see loads of redwings during the snowy weather and a couple of fieldfares also!
I live in rural Herefordshire and had the great pleasure of seeing a fieldfare, which stayed a whole afternoon eating (finishing off!) cotoneaster berries in the recent deep snow.
On the same day, in a different part of my garden a Woodcock spent most of the day searching in deep snow, and also spent some time in the lee of a very high mixed hedge, wonderfully camouflaged among the deep brown leaves under the hedge.
What an exciting day! the first time I have seen either variety of bird so close and took some reasonable pix.
Jan, Lady Falkiner
Jan, Gorsley