Saturday 27 February 2016

MistleThrush! Blackcap,Black Redstart Wagtail and Sparrow Hawk.

I heard him singing ouside, and went to investigate. It wasn't a sound I could easily recognize, as I knew all the bird songs of my regular visiters. It was bitterly cold, inspite of the blue sky and sunny day. In my eagerness to get a photo of an unknown bird I had gone outside without a coat and even though I had more or less located the tree from where I could hear the song I still couldn't see a bird. I was looking up into the high branches of  a conifer tree, and was just about to go indoors, chilled to the bone, when I saw a movement, and a bird flew to a lower branch, and although my captures are of poor quality, I am hoping that someone will recognize it.

 
The bird was very light in colour.... 
 
 
and the speckled breast was most distinctive, I think it might be a Song Thrush!
I have since been reliably informed that it is not a Song Thrush, but a Mistle Thrush.
 


Male Blackcap.



Female Black Redstart.



Male Black Redstart



I have had many sightings of The Black Redstart.



Female


I took this photograph through the studio window and was amazed to see the bird had eyelashes. After looking up if birds really do have eyelashes, I found out they are tiny feathers, but isn't it a sweet look!



The Wagtail


The Sparrow Hawk, perched on a tree on our drive way. I shot into the sun, through our lounge window to get this poor image. It was a huge surprise for me to see it again, as I had seen it for the first time only the day before.

I have been reliably informed that the bird in the first two images is a Mistle Thrush. Many thanks to Frank, from Wild Bird Watching with Fab.



Below are the links to wonderful bird blogs, why don't you check them out! My thanks to Stewart, Eileen, and Anni for hosting their fabulous memes. WILD BIRD WEDNESDAYS
SATURDAY'S CRITTERS
I'D RATHER B BIRDIN

38 comments:

Bas. said...

heerlijk om nu al zoveel mooie vogels te kunnen spotten.

Prunella Pepperpot said...

Lovely captures of birds. My favourite is of the Black Redstart on the bare branches with the blue background. Such expression in its little face. Have a lovely weekend :)

Sara - Villa Emilia said...

Beautiful photos of lovely birds! I too think the first one is a Song Thrush.
My favourite is perhaps the male Blackcap. As Prunella above noticed they have such expressive little faces. Some seem to be thinking something very serious. :)
Have a lovely weekend!

matti niilola said...

Hello. Stunning pictures of birds. Have a nice day.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, congrats on your Song Thrush! The Blackcap is a beauty too. I love the SparrowHawk! Wonderful variety of birds and photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy weekend!

Forest Dream Weaver said...

Interesting series of images....love the expectant pose of the sparrow hawk.
Happy weekend!

FAB said...

Lovely captures of the Black Redstart, a species I don't get see very often.

Your Thrush is a MISTLE with rounded black spots on totally pale underside, whereas the Song Thrush has 'arrow headed' spots but with yellow buff on the upper chest and is smaller in size.

Gosia said...

your nature is inteesting and lovely

Teresa said...

Las fotografías son toas preciosas. Un beso.

Ela said...

Oh, they are beautiful birds !!
Fantastic photos !!
Happy weekend !

Debbie said...

i so enjoy seeing what my friends see at their feeders. you have some real beauties!!

it's wonderful to load the pictures and see all the great points of interest in the images. things you hadn't even noticed. beautiful captures, have a very nice weekend!!!!

Rajesh said...

Very beautiful birds. It is pleasure to see them.

DeniseinVA said...

Your photos of these birds are very impressive. I was especially in awe of the eighth one down. Incredible close up! Great, great photos!

Rose said...

I love that female Black Redstart....and I am still in love with that first shot in the fence post below.

Lois said...

Such lovely pictures of your birds, most of which I have never seen in person before! I just love that closeup of the "eyelashes". It's amazing to be able to see such detail.

Linda said...

Delightful bird photos!

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Lovely song thrush, congrats on a new visitor!
~

hmuxo said...

Your photography is amazing...especially the close ups when you can see each feather. The older I get, the more I like watching birds...why is that? lol
thank you for sharing these photos with us.. maybe someday I'll ask you permission to paint one of these beauties....

susan said...

very lovely shots

Unknown said...

Wonderful birds! I love the wagtail and the hawk.

Jocee said...

Beautiful set of photos. I particularly love the Sparrow Hawk.

Noushka said...

Great photos, special congrats for the Sparrowhawk, a beautiful mature male!
I saw one 2 days ago fly around but he did not perch this time!
Enjoy your sunday :)

Anni said...

Wonderful! All the way around. Yes, yes...the DO look like eyelashes. That close up is outstanding!!

Thank you so very much for sharing this post on I'd Rather B Birdin' for the week. Much appreciated.

Nancy Chan said...

Beautiful bird photos. I amazes me that you know the names of those beautiful birds. My favourite photo is the bird with eyelashes. She is very pretty!

Mike Attwood said...

Lovely collection Sonjia.

TexWisGirl said...

lovely birds.

Stewart M said...

Always struggled with song and mistle thrush! Not really a problem here!

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Hootin Anni said...

Thanks for stopping by over the weekend, at Hootin' Anni's ---I don't want to repeat myself since I visited here through my bird blog admin. :-)

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Great series of birds. I was in southern France and northern Spain a couple of years ago - takes me right back!

Phil Slade said...

Nice captures today. I especially like the two Black Redstarts with the comparison between male female plumages. Yes, a Mistle Thrush's song is very loud and once learned never forgotten.

Bob Bushell said...

Oh yes, it is beautiful. Well taken.

Helma said...

The mistle thrush, red-tailed and black-headed birds are we all agree would like to have the lens. I'm ok a little jealous of this beautiful red-tailed :-)

Helma said...

The mistle thrush, red-tailed and black-headed birds are we all agree would like to have the lens. I'm ok a little jealous of this beautiful red-tailed :-)

Russell Jenkins said...

Some nice birds. I saw some interesting thrush today in Japan. Mysterious but a very alert and upright stance. Keep an eye out for that sparrow hawk. Might be there tomorrow too!

Sharon Wagner said...

So many little birds today. I'm happy to hear their spring chirps. Thank goodness.

NatureFootstep said...

beautiful set of birds. Love to see the redstart and the black cap. Have not seen them for several years.

Rohrerbot said...

It's thrush central over at your place!!! My favorite is the Mistle Thrush but I like them all including the Black Redstart. Had no idea there was such a bird. Thanks for sharing and congrats on your sightings!

Len said...

Great pics.

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