Re: Fieldfare with attitude

Hi Alan

I have yet to see any this year (autumn that is), that one is a handsome looking bird.

I've just found this thread and that's a really good question and one that I don't know the answer to! In flocks the adult birds tend to take the lead and the younger birds follow, especially in migrating flocks like cranes, swans and geese, but for fieldfares it's not as obvious. I would speculate that the strongest mature birds would take the lead if their was some evolutionary benefit for doing so, if there was some degree of risk involved you would think the fittest birds may hang back and let others take the lead!

Fieldfares do certainly have attitude, in their breeding ranges they are extremely protective of their nests and young, regularly chasing, mobbing and even defecating on would be predators. Top birds!

Spotted some at the Lodge yesterday making their charachteristic 'chuck-chuck' call, no chance of a picture yet unfortunately!

I`m just down the road from The Lodge and haven`t seen any yet. "The camera is at the ready" should they appear. They usually flock into the tree on Potton Road which is the sign that they may feed at our Rowan tress. "Fingers crossed they appear" !!

Geoff

Such handsome birds! Superb shots!

Just caught this thread Alan, apologies for not replying sooner!!....cracking shots there mate! Always nice when one you've been after for some time comes along isn't it? Pretty markings on a bird which often gets overlooked?...

Hi Higgy

I was surprised how well marked they are, you can def tell they are part of the Thrush family.

Don't worry about commenting on my threads pal i put the photos on to show what's around me, if people want to just have a look that's fine by me.