Hi there
I had another walk today and I came across Thrushes everywhere. There where two birds that where quite photogenic and I had the camera ready for a sequence of events with the Thrushes ability to hunt for their prey.
This Song Thrush was picking up food in the park area, and it looks like it has a lizard in its beak.
The same Song Thrush with the Lizard well coiled around its beak.
A different bird and I am not sure if this is a song Thrush or a Mistle Thrush. I was walking along the disused railway when I saw this event taking place. This particular bird had picked up a snail, and was busy knocking the shell on the ground so it could pick out the contents of the shell.
Picture 1 The Thrush eyes up the snail with the light coloured shell lying on the ground
Picture 2: The snail is picked up by the bird directly in front of me, and hits the shell hard on the ground.
Picture 3: The contents of the snail are removed from the shell.
Picture 4: The bird turns around with its beak full of snail.
Picture 5: Picture is not clear but the snail in still in its beak
Picture 6: One happy Thrush after his tasty snack
I was beginning to get close to the Thrush, when a cyclist rode between me, and the bird, with the camera in hand, and scared off the bird in the process ..... as well as giving me a fright! hmmmm!!! ho hum.
Still pleased with the pictures though.
I will open another thread asap of all the other wildlife I saw today and it was quite a lot in the beasties, and bugs department.
The highlight of today was to capture pictures of the Blackbanded Damselflies, as well as hearing a Cuckoo.
Another 3 hours well spent.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Great photos there Kathy .
I think the thrush's are such amasing birds. real smart too.
Thanks for putting them up. Im surprised that one was useing the pavement as its anvil though.
Cheers
AL
If its no fun Yer no doin it right!
Well done on seeing the thrush Kathy and thanks for your lovely photographs. I find I just don't see the number of thrush that I did some years back.
Hi Brenda
Thank you for your kind remarks {smile}
I know what you mean about Thrush populations. They have declined now and it is sad that they have - wonder why this is the case for them. Blackbirds seem to be the most confident of all the Thrushes, and they even give their own kind a hard time. Blackbirds have re-adapted with all types of environments, and Songthrushes are not so adaptable at all.
I also think Thrushes are quite shy in their own way. A friendly chat will stop them for flying off if they are aware that you are there. This is the only way to get a decent photo of them.
Oh dear, get the people with the white coats, and take me away - I am now offically a Thrush Whisperer LOL - that is my everyday job now.
Hi Kathy,
What lovely pictures, and a joy to watch a thrush sort out his dinner!
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Hi Kathy
What very good pictures of two thrushes enjoying their dinner. Well captured. They were clearly so engrossed in their dinner that they allowed you to get really close.
I threw a snail out of the greenhose last week and it broke it's shell as it bounced on the top of the wall and shot acorss the lawn. It wasn't there the next time I went out though, so I hope it was eaten for daring to eat my cacti in my greenhouse.
Best wishes Chris
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Hi Sparrow
Thank you for your kind reply. Yes, the Thrushes ere lovely and who can tire of them and their antics
Hi Chris
Yes, the Thrush certainly like their food and each time i past any they had mouthfuls of food of some sort. The Song Thrush in our former garden left lots of empty snail shells about to show that he had many a snail snack.
I love your story about flying snails. I know what you mean when it comes to your precious plants. I have to admit I find slugs more annoying than snails in that department.
Hope that your Thrushes found a tasty snack with the snail minus its shell sitting on the lawn