Fieldfare and mistle thrush

We're back in the realms of dismal daylight, though we've avoided the snow that still seems to be affecting the rest of the country. This is roughly what it looked like at lunchtime today.

Less than ideal light, and the ground was sodden, even the playing fields which were like overfilled sponges to walk on. Not that the conditions were a problem for a small flock of birds that I spotted in the distance. They were thrushes, but not the familiar song thrush. These were my first fieldfares (Turdus pilaris), generally very shy birds so I was some distance away when I took this, by which point they were already taking to the wing.

fieldfare

They alighted in some trees at the edge of the field, but were gone by the time I'd carefully picked my way across through the puddles. Gone that is apart from one bird, which turned out to be a mistle thrush (Turdus viscivorus), a slightly larger and much more bold member of the same family.

mistle thrush

I missed the fox tonight. It's been (or more precisely, the egg has gone), but I'd gone inside to warm up. There'll be other opportunities though.
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Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

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4 Comments

  1. SittingFox February 7, 2009 at 4:02 pm #

    Goodness, that first picture really does show the extent of the light (or lack of light, to be precise). I guess it was raining for you when it was sleeting / snowing up here.

    Congrats for seeing the fieldfares :up:

  2. Words February 7, 2009 at 10:02 pm #

    Yes we've had plenty of rain and drizzle, though today was fine. Bright sunshine, so I tossed up between chasing kestrels or stalking fulmars. The fulmars won. I'll post some shots later after a bit of 'egg' watching.

  3. cakkleberrylane February 9, 2009 at 3:02 am #

    The first shot in particular is excellent!

  4. Words February 9, 2009 at 7:02 am #

    Thanks Lois!