A beautiful but cold afternoon on the southern most boundary of the Wirral today. Temperatures plummeted to -7 C overnight and winter thrushes were everywhere. Whilst a bit of snow ensures the UK grinds to a standstill these birds from Arctic climes are made of sterner stuff. -7? Positively balmy and warm enough to promote this Redwing to sing at the delight of frozen haws.
An amazing sound and one which isn't heard very often in the UK!
The thrush flocks are very flighty and getting a shot of one perched up is proving a challenge.
Redwings aren't the only thrushes around in good numbers locally - Fieldfares are also plentiful and showed their true colours in the bright sunshine.
Keeping a close eye on proceedings was one of our local Buzzards that seemed quite happy perched on the end of a barn whilst Molly mooched around beneath it.
Plenty of other birds moving in response to the cold weather with small parties of Skylarks and Lapwings heading towards the Dee estuary to find less frozen ground. A single Yellowhammer also flew over.
The garden birds are giving the feeders a hammering and it was interesting to see this Coal Tit with a deformed bill coping with the cold by stuffing itself with fat. I didn't notice the defromed bill until I blew the photo's up on the computer but noticed it was continuously wiping its bill on a branch.
A walk around Stanney Woods as darkness fell was rewarded with a Woodcock that came up from beneath my feet and huge numbers of Carrion Crows, Magpies and Jackdaws coming in to roost.
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