Birding Journal – Redwing

Latin name: Turdus Iliacus
Size: Slightly littler than a song thrush
Sound: High, thin seesee

The heavy snow we’ve experienced has forced many birds who normally would be too shy to show themselves to be a bit bolder in their quest for food. The bad news is that this puts them at greater risk from predators, but the good news for birdwatchers is that it’s been bonanza season, with many of us seizing the opportunity to spot some usually tricky species with increased ease. Even Bitterns have been reported spotted out in the open, which is usually unheard of. Sadly I can’t report that I’ve seen anything that rare on the common, but I have seen an unusual amount of usually timid redwings. I’m sure if you’re familiar with this bird you’ll agree that this is a pleasant treat.

The redwing is a regular winter visitor to the common. They fly in from Scandinavia – few pairs actually breed in the UK. They are the smallest and – give or take a fieldfare or two – prettiest of the thrush family. The first time we saw one scrabbling around in the undergrowth my husband did indeed think it was a song thrush, but a flash of it’s chestnut-red underwing and beautiful yellow striped eye showed that this was something rather more special.

A good place to see them is the grass outside the front of the Spa Hotel where you can see gangs of them feeding on the ground. First time I saw them there, there were so many of them, and their behaviour so uncharacteristically bold, that for a split second I thought I was looking at a flock of starlings.

As long as we keep them well fed during these bleaker days, 2010 should prove to be a great year for our birds. The cold snap is good for killing off viruses and Spring shouldn’t come too early this year, so we’re hopefully back to “proper” seasons, with birds being born at the right time, rather than being lured into the world early with nothing suitable to eat. So make sure whilst we’re in this cold snap, to dangle those fat balls with gay abandon!

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