I suspect that most places in England had snow falling pretty-much all day yesterday, and we were no exception here. Prompted by my pal Titus, I did a check and reckon we had about 6 inches (15 cm). I didn't attempt to venture out, but some did - and regretted it! In fact I had great difficulty in tearing myself away from my study window, as the birds were going mad.
During breakfast we had a garden first for the year in the form of a Redwing, which only stopped briefly in our cob nut tree.
Shortly after breakfast we had a garden 'lifer'. OK, so it's not a rare bird, but it really excited me! At first I thought we were being visited by a Song Thrush, as we sometimes see one in the garden if we have a harsh winter. However, something didn't look quite right through the falling snow, so I raised my bins to it - Mistle Thrush!! I only got rubbish images because of the low light and it being about 14 metres away through the falling snow, but I have to include it here 'for the record'.
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| Mistle Thrush - our garden |
The day continued to be manic, with an estimated 10 to 13 lb (5 to 6 kg) of bird food being consumed, but not as manic as Doug McFarlane's by the sound of things. I spent most of the day concentrating on Bramblings - more on this subject in my next post.
Music
I'm still not sure if I'm going to continue with appending music clips to my post. I have decided, however, that I'm dropping ensuring that each clip has a connection to the previous clip. Instead, I will concentrate on influences and favourites, mainly in a chronological order. So here goes!
One of my earliest musical likes was Ricky Nelson, so much so that I ensured that I became known as Ricky, rather than Richard. When Mr. Nelson changed his name from Ricky to Rick in 1961 I followed suite soon after. I'm still known as Rick by family and older friends, but decided around 1975 to revert to Richard in a work environment, and this then became how introduced myself to all new acquaintances - except when I had my blues band!
This is a moody ballad from Mr Nelson.
We used to have a big holly in the front garden, before it was blown down in a gale, that always had a heavy crop of berries and was always defended by a mistle thrush until it had scoffed all the berries. Wonderful stormy weather birds. Haven't had one in the garden since.............
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear of the loss of your holly bush Phil. Did you replace it with something for the birds?
DeleteCongratulations on a new garden bird! Hope you feel better. I've been out of commission for over a month with flu. No fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks Wally. Sorry to hear that you're suffering - over a month must be a real drag! I hope that you're better soon!
DeleteBeen over to your site (love the Ospreys), and must try to suss out what this Google + thing is and what 'circles' are (in the Google + context). Not really into this social networking thing (other than Blogger).
Good luck with Google+ it gave me brain ache lol. It seems looking around various blogs and twitter that Mistle Thrush have been popping into a lot of gardens, just hope the birds in more rural areas are ok. Nice post Richard
ReplyDeleteI've spent the last 15 minutes looking at Google + Doug and come to the conclusion that I'm 50 year too old!!
DeletePrompted by the desperation of the birds in our garden, I too have been worried about the birds that don't have the benefit of a helping hand. It's been a really rough twelve months for them!
I would be really excited if I had a mistle thrush in my garden, it must of been great to see. From Findlay
ReplyDeleteI can assure you that it was, Findlay. I hope that it might return some time, but it didn't come down to feed (not when I was looking, anyway) so I suspect that it won't be back.
DeleteI would love a Mistle Thrush in my garden, so, if you will let me, divulge the secrets of a Mistle Thrush of yours.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what brought us the Mistle Thrush, Bob, as I didn't see it feed. I suspect, however, it was curiosity and the hope of food and drink, because of the large numbers of birds hanging around our garden.
DeleteFlocks of Fieldfares and Redwings have moved down South, a Fieldfare nearly collied with our car this morning.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that a lot of birds are moving south at the moment Linda. So pleased to see the "nearly" in your comment.
DeleteWell done Richard,great Lifer in the bag.
ReplyDeleteJohn.
Thank you John. The birds are cerainly compensating for this spell of snowy weather.
DeleteNice bird anywhere these days, but a Mistle Thrush in the garden....excellent Richard. I actually feel we were one up on you yesterday though as we had a Song Thrush in our garden which really pleased us all.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pete. I guess it depends on what you're used to. We've had Song Thrush every year since I started records (except this year) - hence my excitement at the Mistle Thrush 'lifer'.
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