Field Day for Fieldfare - and Redwing

The forecast for today Thursday 12th January 2017 was an alert-ridden mix of heavy rain and strong winds  turning icy with snow in the evening. The predicted heavy rainfall was just light drizzle at 10am when I  walked along the river, turning off up a path running alongside a fenced field bounded by a high young hedgerow. Looking through the bare hedge, there appeared to be a  flock of starlings (about 60) feeding on the grass but when some of them flew off, a scan of the field revealed large numbers of fieldfare and redwing on the periphery of the close-knit starling flock. The fieldfare and redwing were showing their brilliant colours, even on such a dull day, some seeming bigger and brighter than others. The fieldfare were noticeably larger making it easier to count them. There were at least 35 fieldfare on the ground, with those watching from the far hedge adding to the numbers. The redwing on the field numbered at least 30 with a few in the hedge. All were walking around each other, maintaining a distance, spread out over the field where the starlings foraged much closer together.     

Two mistle thrushes foraged amongst the other thrushes, looking well fed and strong.

All were quiet.

On my way back some time later, the birds were still foraging on the field but were suddenly spooked by something and flew up, leaving a single carrion crow on the grass. They all landed in two trees close to the field, on the river bank, with a good view across the path. The starlings immediately began to sing then fieldfare and redwing joined in making a strange but impressive chorus of clicks, whistles, chucks, squeeks and short snatches of more melodic song. They were soon flying back onto the field.

Eight pied wagtails flew across, calling, whilst higher up a few black-headed gulls and herring gulls flew south.  House sparrows sang in nearby hedges with dunnock, robin, wren and blackbirds present and a singing song thrush amongst ivy near some tumbling wood pigeons.

The migrant thrushes have largely finished off the hedgerow berries and fruits, turning to field foraging as the weather turns - they certainly know when snow and ice is on the way and the earth is likely to freeze over.