Saw my first Mistlethrush for ages!

Hi Ron.

Here is a couple of coincidences for you. Last year I submitted a picture of a Great Spotted Woodpecker and the next day one turned up in the POE garden. Now I have submitted a Mistle Thrush picture and again one turns up there. Spooky or what.

If you look at my Gateshead gallery you will find that there are now two pictures of Mistle Thrushes. If you look at the pattern of spots on the breast you will notice the difference in the two birds. These markings make the birds easy to identify.

The bird I pictured last year vanished from the garden, just after the picture was taken. It returned just before Christmas bringing the the second bird with it. You will notice that both pictures were taken at the same location.

I believe that these birds winter here and return to their breeding home in the north of Europe, for the summer. I never see Mistle Thrushes in this area during in the summer months.

Regards to all

Roy J.

Hi Roy, yes I remember the sighting of the Great Spotted Woodpecker in the garden of Chris and Sarah soon after you posted, and you know when Chris spotted it from his office window he was just so excited, asking Sarah for the camera quick, quick!!! Sarah wondered what on earth was happening and Chris nearly wet himself. I guess because as you know they are a comparatively rare bird!!

The Mistlethrush or Mistle Thrush (which is correct, I bet you know without looking it up?) likewise, a comparatively rare bird nowadays.

And Sue, how nice it must be for you (an earlier post) to sit in America and know the area of Wheatley as well as you do, therefore being able to 'picture' my sighting! You are of course correct.

It's Mistle Thrush Ron.

And yes, it's great to read when Chris and Sarah talk about going for a walk, and then post pictures of the place I walked every day of my young life. And when you post about Wheatley. It makes me very homesick.

If you keep a keen eye out, the Great Spotted Woodpecker is usually found up in the trees just up from Preston's place. I see it most years, and think it's a regular.