Fieldfares

 Had my first good view this autumn of a fieldfare yesterday, feeding on hawthorn berries in the Tunstall valley, Weardale. I've seen and heard them in the distance over the last couple of weeks but it's surprisingly difficult to get close to these wary birds, that are always on the move. There's an excellent berry crop here this autumn, which should attract many more.

The pictures below are birds from earlier years. Once the hawthorn berry crop dwindles they become less wary, and when snow falls in winter they sometimes visit the garden to feed on crab apples. I always put old, damaged eating apples out for them in late winter.