Redwings and a Mistle Thush.

[Mick Harris]

The first two are Redwings, another winter migrant to the UK and the other (our largest Thrush) is a Mistle Thrush which is a resident. They are all enjoying the Ivy berries just opposite my house at present, of which there is a large crop. My first reasonable shots of these birds as it was with the Fieldfare shots in yesterdays post. Hopefully I'll get a Song Thrush later to complete the UK list of Thrushes.
Canon 7D, 400 mm 5.6L tripod mounted.
IMG_2583 Redwing by Mick Harris, on Flickr
IMG_2568 Redwing by Mick Harris, on Flickr
IMG_2599 Mistle Thrush by Mick Harris, on Flickr
IMG_2607 Mistle Thrush by Mick Harris, on Flickr
IMG_2625 Mistle Thrush by Mick Harris, on Flickr

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Nice captures, Mick. The birds look fat and healthy even in the cold winter.

[Mick Harris]

Thanks Ramon. There are plenty of berries around for them at the moment and hopefully the snow will not hang around too long.

[Ely Teehankee]

You are in a place that I could only dream of seeing. Berries in the middle of winter. Are the Ivy berries anything like blueberries in flavor and taste? It looks like the birds are approachable. They look so pleasant to be with, perhaps you can try to get them full frame using a blind to get real close. I like the pictures of the birds with the berries. Well done Mick & Mabuhay.

[Mick Harris]

Hi Ely, thanks for looking. I'm afraid that ivy berries only look like blueberries and as far as I know have never been used for human consumption. This is a bonus for the birds however as they are a prime sauce of food, especially when snow covers the ground or the ground is frozen and too hard for the birds to penetrate in their search for worms and grubs. When I took the shots I was mostly behind the hedge in my front garden, so fairly well hidden. If I was to get 10 feet closer I would be in the middle of the quite busy road which passes my house. The birds don't mind cars passing by them two feet or so away and only fly off if a big truck or bus appears. They are quick to return though.

Happy birding,

Mick

Just found out that ivy berries are toxic to humans so won't be tempted to have some with ice-cream!!

[Lawrence Lo]

Hi Mick looks like they will be there for a while, there's plenty for food.

I love the contrast and BG of the 1st shot, bird's caught in the act.

[Mick Harris]

Thanks for looking Lawrence, yuor comment is much appreciated.

Happy birding

[Ely Teehankee]

In this case you should not attempt to get any closer to the birds. Good you told me that this is toxic to human beings because here I try all the fruits that the birds eat to find out what they like about it. I noticed that most of them has a fruity flavor and slightly sweet. The same with nectars of a flowering tree that I have tasted in some. I did not know that there is such a thing that is safe for the birds to eat but toxic to us. You have just saved me from the possibility of going to the hospital for eating bird fruits.