Ledbury Focus February 2020 Ledbury Focus February 2020 v1 | Page 36

Fieldfare - photo courtesy of Chris Comersall has a chestnut-brown back and yellowy breast, streaked with black. It has a black tail, dark wings and pale grey rump and head. Weighing around 100 grams, it is a little smaller than a mistle thrush. The fieldfare is a winter visitor to the UK arriving from October onwards and staying until early spring. Whilst here, they move about the landscape in flocks of up to 200 birds, often flocking together with redwings. Towards dusk they get together in a roost for both protection and warmth and they all face the same direction when they sleep! Where to see them Fieldfare feed on invertebrates such as worms and grubs and congregate in flocks across arable and grassland fields. They move through the countryside to continually look for food and it is thought that the name fieldfare comes from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘feldware’ which means ‘traveller of the fields.’ Fieldfare T his year, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s column will return to looking at a particular species each month. We start the year with the fieldfare. Fieldfares bring life and chatter to the winter countryside as they move in flocks through frosty fields. A member of the thrush family, the fieldfare 36 They also feed on seasonal berries such as such as holly, hawthorn and dog rose that can be found in our hedgerows, woodlands and parks; a hedgerow gleaming with red berries is a good place to spot small flocks. They also enjoy apples – windfalls and unpicked fruit which may remain in our county’s orchards - flocks of over 1,000 birds have been recorded in orchards. Harsh weather and snowfall also drive birds into gardens and more urban areas so keep your eyes peeled on frosty days! Listen out for the fieldfare’s loud, distinctive “chack- chack-chack” call. To advertise call 01684 833715 or email: [email protected]