hi, you were all so helpful helping me indentify my redpolls (up to 4 so far!), that i thought i'd give it another go with this new bird!
it is a bit similar to Sparrow's post on the 7th Jan, but i am not sure if the bird in question is a song or a mistle thrush - we do have song thrushes, but he looks a bit different-Although he is on his own in this pic, the first time i saw him he was in a small flock of 6 or so.
Also to add to the confusion i have (almost definately, possibly, maybe) just seen a fieldfare (thrush with grey back and chestnut brown coloured) which of course is similar again!
HELP!
Hi Culintg
Your bird in the picture is a fieldfare. With the current weather conditions they are venturing into gardens more regularly.
The bird can be best ID'd in the second photo by the speckled breast with a buff wash, white belly, grey head with the darker area around the eye and the yellow base to the beaks lower mandible. Although you can't see the back it would be chestnut with a grey base to the tail as you described above. If you hear one call, they give a harsh 'chack' and often flick their tails.
If you can put out some apples they may come down into your garden.
Paul
It actually looks like a fieldfare to me, it's head looks greyish in the photos.
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
It is a thrush. But it's neither a mistle nor a song. It's a Fieldfare a winter visitor to these shores.
They are flooding into gardens at the moment because of the severe weather.
Nice photos.
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Hi Culintg,
This definitely looks like a fieldfare to me. We have been seeing lots of them here at the reserve feeding station for some weeks now. They are especially prevalent in gardens because of the cold weather and there have been many reports of flocks of them coming along and eating all of the berries off of many garden shrubs and trees.
We have found them to be very fond of rotten fruit, especially apples, pears and bananas. The blacker the better it seems as they love the sugary fermented bits. Why not try putting some fruit out into your garden and see if you can attract the beautiful bird to feed there?
All the best,
Paula, Lochwinnoch RSPB reserve
Paula Baker
Site Manager, RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond
Hi, i have seen it again - and it is definately a fieldfare - however, it is on its own (i have not seen its friends again since the other day) and the little birds are chasing it - we have put down fruit etc in the garden (in a bit we dont usually feed in) is there anything else we can do?