Saturday 10 January 2009

Sweet Song Thrush.............

The earth has been frozen for days.........
The song thrush suffers badly during harsh winters..........they are ground feeders.

She takes snails from my garden during the summer months........



Many of my plants grew well this year because of her.......I feed her three times a day.....she needs much help at this time........



Feed well, my friend, you have another cold night ahead.........





37 comments:

Ruth said...

Nice pictures. We have a number of different thrushes here, but other than our robin (which is not the same as yours) they are quite secretive and are seen in thick brush only. Our robins (thrush) do not eat seeds as a rule, just insects, worms and berries.

Cheryl said...

Hi Ruth....that is interesting....our thrushes are secretive to....and will stay in thick brush. The cold weather has brought them out into the garden.....I am feeding them on dried berries, dried meal worms and dried insects. So our thrushes have the same habits......

Q said...

Dear Cheryl,
She is lovely...so beautiful. Her voice is divine...your pictures bring her right into my gardens. Thank you. She is a companion.
It is good of you to make sure she has plenty to eat. The climate is changing. I know we must be diligent and aware of all the different species that have depended on Mother Nature to provide at the right time. We are her helpers now. We are her daughters.
You are a good daughter.
Sherry

NCmountainwoman said...

What a sweet little bird. How great that you are there to give a helping hand.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

She looks cold standing in all that frost. Brrrrrr

The thrushes here are all beginning to head north. They will be driven back south by the horrid Arctic front that is to blow through here this week. They do have a hard time in this cold weather. The ground will freeze again tonight no doubt.

Cheryl said...

Dear Sherry......That is exactly how I feel......I am her carer.....the birds are fragile in this weather.....sometimes they do not survive the low temperatures at night. I look for her each day.....she knows where to find me now......I feed her early 7.30 am...
The weather here is way below the norm for this time of year. I am going through much seed etc to keep all the birds going. My gardens are full........

marmee said...

what do you feed your thrush?
it is almost sad seeing her on frozen ground. i am sure she has much graditude for your helping her in these winter months.

Cheryl said...

Hi Lisa.....sometimes the thrushes do migrate.....mine always choose to stay.....they know that I will supply them with food......

I hope that your thrushes survive the bad weather.....poor birds they have such a hard time in these conditions.......

Shirley said...

Hi again Cheryl :-)

So lovely to see images of the song thrush in your garden :-) It is such a pretty bird isn’t it?

It has been a while since I’ve seen one. Looking back my blog I got some photos back in April 2007 when it was visiting quite regularly. I did see one last year at some point, I think. I know numbers are a concern in some areas. I certainly look out for any visiting and always think of them when I scatter sultanas on the ground :-D

Ah… I see you mention them migrating. I have wondered about that. I will look out from April onwards and see if they return around then. :-D

Enjoy the rest of your weekend :-D

Cheryl said...

Hi Shirl....they are the top of my favourites list (along with the sky lark)......

Numbers are falling....which is sad.....I do know that slug pellets were an issue a few years back. I hope people have stopped using the wretched things.

Some do migrate to warmer areas....others will choose to stay.....I am glad mine stay...I treat them well ......

Cheryl said...

Hi Marmee......I feed her dried insects and mealworms. She also likes sultanas and dried berries.....I throw them in the lawn in front of the kitchen window....she will feed alone there.
They are placid and sensitive birds, the other birds will chase her away given the opportunity.......

Rose said...

It certainly looks cold there, too, Cheryl. The thrush is lucky to have someone so caring to look out for her.

I bought one of those bell-shaped molds of birdseed and just hung it outside the other day. Wow, do the birds love it! I have to be careful where I put birdseed, though, because of the cats, so it always has to go up somewhere high.

Dawny P said...

Poor old birds Cheryl. No log fires to cosy up to like us. I think the thrush is a pretty bird and they are quite secretive, preferring to stay in the bushes (according to him indoors!!).

There were tree surgeons in our wood on Friday doing some essential work because of overhead lines, and the noise from the chainsaws nearly drove me up the wall!! All the wildlife in there must have been terrified and we didn't see anything for a few days (they were probably trying to stary warm as well, to be fair) but there were a few squirrels back today. I know it has to be done but I wish they wouldn't Cheryl. Kyla told Richard yesterday (out of my earshot)that she does not like trees. Oh I was quite disappointed to hear her say it. He told her that I would be upset if I knew as I love the trees. I think we need to go for a nice walk very soon and find out why she feels that way xxxx

Cheryl said...

Hi Rose.....I don't think I have ever been so cold......because this area is damp as well it gets right into your bones.....

The bellshaped feeders are excellent....you will find it will disappear quickly......the birds love them.....


Enjoy your weekend.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Dawny....the thrush is beginning to know me and of course she is hungry......so I will keep feeding her until conditions improve......
I hate to hear the chainsaws.....they leave me cold....but as you say some work has to be done...it is essential...

Perhaps little Kyla is frightened of trees because they are such huge, imposing structures.....little children don't realise that the butterflies and ladybirds are hiding in them.....perhaps the odd fairy or two......and of course they give you shade to protect you from the sun rays.......
I have always encouraged Riley and Poppi to hug trees to feel the energy......to gain stength from the tree.....they do it freely now

Trees are beautiful, without them the air would not be clean......

Marimoy said...

Trees are quite important. They each have a unique energy, too. Thank you for mentioning that in your comment. Thank you, also, for being such a wonderful friend to nature... even if the rabbits are pesky! :D

Zvrk said...

It's so cold last few days.
Our lake has been frozen solid for last few days.
I hate to think what's doing to my fig and other fragile plants in my garden.

Mary said...

You have a good heart. And you notice. Many people don't notice. Take care of her, Cheryl.

Cheryl said...

Hi Mimi you are welcome.....I always have time to help nature.....she struggles....and needs our help more and more....

Cheryl said...

Hi Zvrk.....I am also concerned about some of the plants, especially those I grow in large containers. We play the waiting game now and see what spring brings us......

Cheryl said...

Hi Mary......I shall take good care of her...do not worry.....

Anna said...

Such lovely birds. Here in the north west of England we have woken up to a much warmer morning with not a trace of frost. It's windy and now raining - something we have not seen for some time. Hopefully it will warm up with you to soon Cheryl. It is has been a bitter spell for humans, creatures and plants. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Pat said...

I first started feeding winter birds 2 years ago because I felt so bad when our ground was frozen.
How they manage to survive amazes me. Don't understand why they don't go south to warmer climates.You're some nature lover...dried insects and worms is more than most would do. By the way...you have a meme if you like to stop by.

Cheryl said...

Hi Anna.....there is evidence of a thaw so I have my fingers crossed. The wildlife I am sure has suffered during this long cold spell......

Cheryl said...

Dear Patsi.....most of my time is spent working in the garden and with nature.....I am passionate about both.....

Thank you for the meme....you are most kind.......

Wendy said...

What beautiful pics you posted! How fortunate you were able to take little thrush's pic without her flying away!

I can see your frozen grass. I'm glad you are putting out food for little thrush.

Squirrels got into my bird feeder and chewed it terribly. If I were to put birdseeds out in a dish or pie plate, the squirrels would be there feasting for sure.

I hear Europe is in the middle of a very cold spell. I hope it lifts soon!
Stay warm.

Miranda Bell said...

The Song Thrush is a beautiful bird - we recently seem to have acquired 3! One of them just takes over the open bird table and shoos all the little birds away... talk about ruling the roost! Hope you've had a good weekend - Miranda

beckie said...

Cheryl, have been without internet for 2 days so am trying to catch up. We had some icing here and I think that was the problem.

Your little thrush is so lucky to have found your garden. He does look cold, but very well fed. I hope your cold goes away soon. I know none of you are used to it.

Leanne said...

lovely pics Cheryl, she is lucky yo have yuo looking after her...

leanne x

Cheryl said...

Dear Wendy.......squirrels can be a nuisance....I only have two here, so I feed them separately and they seem to leave the feeders alone.....

The ground is still frozen but we have gentle rain today with gusty winds.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Miranda.....I have never seen a song thrush feed from a bird table, most unusual.....must be hungry......

Gail said...

Cheryl,

I love your birds..I feel especially found of thrushes...after a childhood of The Secret Garden and other sweet English books!

Our ground is frozen and with the arctic blast that will reach all the way town to Tennessee and lower it will be hard for them...I might have to get some dried bugs at the bird shop! They sell them for our bluebirds.

I did see a Robin in my raised feeder...boy was I surprised and didn't have a camera handy!

Is your witch hazel blooming?

Gail

CIELO said...

Ah, to learn from the birds!

"Look at the birds in the sky. They don't plant or harvest or gather food into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. You are more valuable than they are, aren't you?" (Matthew 6:26)

Love ya!

cielo

Cheryl said...

Hi Gail......stay warm....our artic conditions have left, thank goodness......
The witch hazel is not in flower yet.......I am so excited, I do wish it would get a move on!!

Cheryl said...

Hi Cielo.....who am I to answer.....but I love the reading.......

Sue said...

Have just found your blog, it's gorgeous, i am an amature phtographer wildlife & nature in any shape or form are my fav subjects. Wish i had your garden, sue.x

Grammy said...

Hi Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I just went back through your posts a bit. I love them all. even Mr Mouse. We had a pet store in late 80s -93 and a domestic rat can be quite a pet. I wonder how some of your photos can be clicked and enlarged for a better view and some can not. My vision is not like I want so I need the full view on some photos to see detail.
Your garden reminds me of the one I had to leave behind in St. Louis. I was more of a shad gardeners as I had so many wonderful oaks.
If I get the farm in Aug 09 I will again have the garden of my dreams. It will be called Rock heaven. As the house it made of stone. Siting in the yard is like heaven on earth. I had that peace and calm in my old home. I too added touches of whimsical things.