Mistle Thrush

The mistle thrush is larger than the song thrush and more upright in its posture, but the easiest way to identify it is by its call. Not the melodic call of its better known cousin, but instead a call that closely resembles a football rattle at full throttle. This morning you could have been forgiven for thinking that a game was taking place at the nearby football stadium. A small flock of mistles were 'thrushing' for all their worth.

I started by photographing a playful pair. They were jumping between branches so it was just a matter of biding my time to get a flight shot.

The light was excellent and after watching them for a few minutes I stepped back to take a shot of several perched high in the trees. There are five in this frame, and one very colourful interloper. I really didn't see the woodpecker when I took it.

The next shot is one I like, not a thrush but a magpie landing in a ploughed field as the sun was rising above the Downs.

And just a couple more ducks enjoying the late season sun. This may be the last of it. The weather is changing again. Some rain and drizzle tonight, and cooler air on the way. Still, it's been a good month so far. We'll probably have snow by the end of it :whistle:


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Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D EF and 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.

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This Post Has 6 Comments

  1. gdare

    4 Oct 2011

    Weather is changing, we will have some snow in mountains by the end of this week. The bad thing is, from t-shirts we will jump into winter clothing in a day or so :left:
    I like that duck photo :up:

  2. Words

    4 Oct 2011

    Darko, they are threatening snow here too (but I suspect that will be much further north), and hail (which we may well get). Strange time of year, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

  3. Words

    4 Oct 2011

    Erwin, thanks!

  4. SittingFox

    9 Oct 2011

    Very nice set (especially the landing magpie) and the hidden woodpecker is a bonus! :up:

  5. Words

    9 Oct 2011

    Adele, when I did finally notice the woodpecker it did a typically fine job of staying out of camera shot.

  6. Wulpen

    19 Oct 2012

    These are beautiful photos Its a real pleasure to look at :up:

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