Fieldfare or Redwing?

donal2000

I had a large number of visitors (22+) to the garden this afternoon to visit the holly tree and they were happy picking off the berries.

My initial thought was that they were Redwings but they seemed a little larger (similar in size I thought to a Blackbird which makes me think they were Fieldfares?).

What would people's guess be on the visitors I had? (I didnt have the camera to hand unfortunately).

LostCovey

donal2000 wrote: »

I had a large number of visitors (22+) to the garden this afternoon to visit the holly tree and they were happy picking off the berries.

My initial thought was that they were Redwings but they seemed a little larger (similar in size I thought to a Blackbird which makes me think they were Fieldfares?).

What would people's guess be on the visitors I had? (I didnt have the camera to hand unfortunately).

What did they look like?

LC

donal2000

Like a Thrush somewhat but orange/red along their breast which made me initially think they were Redwings. However when flying from tree to tree they had a lot of black along their back/tails. I've never seen Fieldfare's before, only Redwings.

I have been on youtube - they look a lot more like Fieldfare's that visited today. Just amazed at how many showed up to feed

doctor evil

Great to hear that not all Holly Trees have been hacked to death!

fryup

plenty of redwings down my way > east clare

all the berries are nearly gone from my holly tree now

Half-cocked

Heres a pic of each I took in my garden by cutting a hole in the side of my shed and luring them close with apples!

Redwing:


Fieldfare:



I don't know if anyone else is trying to photo these species, but you might find it useful to know that they are completely unbothered by camera flash.

donal2000

Thanks Half-Cocked. Great photo's

I think it was Redwings we had visit.

fryup

plenty of redwings here in my garden in east clare, but no fieldfare..whys that? too far west?

Half-cocked

donal2000 wrote: »

Thanks Half-Cocked. Great photo's

I think it was Redwings we had visit.

Lovely looking birds, I really want to photo one in a holly tree or some other berry tree, it would look more natural than squatting on the dirty snow in my back garden!

Doge

We've had our first visit of Redwings today (in the Cork Suburbs), spotted 4 of them so far.

I've never seen them in our garden before.

Does this species usually nest in rural areas, and come to the suburbs in search of food during the cold winter months?

Did a search and found a thread where Redwings visited other watcher's gardens on Christmas day also:

http://www.birding.uk.com/forum/garden-birds/7469-redwing.html