The winter thrushes: fieldfares and redwings

They come from Scandinavia, Iceland and other parts of northern and eastern Europe, travelling enormous distances in search of food and milder conditions. Some arrive in small parties, others in great, restless flocks. They may stay for weeks or move on almost as quickly as they appeared.

Here in Radnorshire, with our open pasture, old hedgerows, woodland edges and berry-bearing trees, there are plenty of promising places to look.

The fieldfare

Turdus pilaris

The fieldfare is the larger and perhaps more flamboyant of the two. It has a lovely grey head, a rich chestnut back, a spotted breast and a long, dark tail. Seen properly in winter sunshine, it is a surprisingly colourful bird.

Fieldfares are sociable, often feeding together in fields or gathering noisily in trees. Their call is a wonderfully unmistakable chack-chack-chack, rather like a small wooden rattle.

They enjoy hawthorn and rowan berries, but will also search the ground for worms and other invertebrates when conditions allow. A flock may spend much of the morning working its way across a pasture, then rise together and settle somewhere else.

The redwing

Turdus iliacus

The redwing is smaller and rather more discreet. At first glance it might be mistaken for a song thrush, but look for the bold creamy-white stripe above its eye and the beautiful rusty-red colouring along its flanks and beneath its wings.

Redwings often travel with fieldfares, though they have quite a different voice. Their thin, high tseeep is especially worth learning. On autumn nights, you may hear them calling as they migrate overhead, even when you cannot see a single bird.

There is something rather wonderful about standing outside in the darkness and knowing that, somewhere above, these little travellers are making their way across the country.

Where to look at Fforest Fields

The best place to begin is along the hedgerows and the edges of open fields.

Look for hawthorn bushes still carrying their red berries, rowan trees with fruit remaining, and sheltered pasture where birds can search for food. A good berry crop can attract a flock for several days, until the birds have eaten their fill and moved on.

On a cold morning, watch the fields from a little distance before walking across them. You might first notice a dozen upright birds scattered through the grass, or hear a sudden chorus of calls as a flock takes flight.

There is no need to get very close. In fact, winter birds are better left to feed undisturbed, especially during hard frost when food is difficult to find.

Both species have also been recorded in the nearby Elan Valley, where winter thrushes visit the open country and berry-bearing trees.

A little field note of your own

If you spot a flock during your stay, we'd love you to make a note of it.

You don't need to be an expert, and you certainly don't need to identify every bird. A few simple observations are wonderfully useful:

• When and where: the date, approximate time and which field, hedge or woodland edge.

• How many: a single bird, a small party or a great flock? An estimate is fine.

• Which birds: fieldfares, redwings, or perhaps both together.

• What they were doing: eating berries, feeding on the ground, resting or flying overhead.

• The conditions: frost, sunshine, rain, snow or particularly strong winds.

A photograph is lovely if you can take one without disturbing them.

Over time, these little records can help us build a picture of the winter birds using the farm: when they arrive, which places they favour and how their numbers vary from one year to the next.

And perhaps that is one of the nicest things about watching wildlife. You begin by noticing a bird in a hedge, and before long you find yourself paying attention to the berries, the weather, the changing light and the turning of the whole year.

Keep your eyes on the hedgerows this winter. There may be visitors from a thousand miles away.