Two Fieldfare birds have been visiting our garden this week. Have never heard of them before, let alone seen one. The snow has driven them out of the country and they’ve nearly stripped our holly tree of berry’s.
We read that Redwings are doing the same and we thought that was what they were but they’ve more intense black lines round the eyes and have a very pale breast brighter than a thrush. Bit bigger than a blackbird although the blackbirds are chasing them away.
We’ve also had a woodpecker having a go at our ‘superfortress’ of mixed sunflower seeds. The woodpecker is greedy, versatile and strong with no refinement but very attractive.
The ‘superfortress’ is the best squirrel proof seed feeder we’ve had, but seems to be out of production. It’s other great feature is that the top is attached by twisting the lid. So re-filling is done with no screwing or taking it down. The squirrels have been scratching it but the top is too big and strong for them to turn or lever off. It’s also broader than high so it’s easy to get seeds into it. Since buying it I’ve never seen another and it’s a few years old now. If you’re out there ‘superfortress’ maker send me an e-mail.
A couple of days ago around 9am hundreds of geese passed nearby in several large V’s heading south west which seemed to be towards Blackpool Airport. If they were heading for Martin Mere, south of the Ribble they’d be going more south. How come they are moving at 9am as I’d have thought southerly headed birds would be at the end of their journey, so what time did they set off, was it dark. Not sure what is going on with geese at the moment as one day they pass north or north east and a couple of days later it’s the opposite direction. Great sight and sound though.