Ditton Parish Council - Ditton Court Quarry in November

image of a Fieldfare image of a Song Thrush
Fieldfare Song Thrush

Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris) and Redwings (Tardus iliacus) look quite similar to Song Thrushes in size, shape and behaviour. They stand very upright and move forward with purposeful hops. They are social birds, spending this time of the year in flocks of a dozen or even two hundred strong.

image of a Redwing

Redwing

The Redwing is the smallest and has a creamy stripe above the eye and an orange-red flank.

Both migrant species flock together, in fields, in the winter, and may be seen visiting the quarry from neighbouring farmland. They will leave the UK in March and April. Food includes berries, worms and dropped apples from the surrounding orchards.

Because of declining numbers, the Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos), is a Red List species. It eats snails, which it breaks against stones (anvil) with a flick of the head. Look out for the stones on the quarry surrounded by broken snail shells.

Why do leaves change colour in the autumn?

Sunlight is trapped in a leaf by a green pigment called chlorophyll. When the days grow short and night time temperatures fall, the tree prepares for winter. Most trees do not grow in autumn and winter, so there is no need for food and the ‘food factory’ closes down. The chlorophyll left in the leaf is not needed and starts to decompose. That means the other pigments (e.g. carotenes and xanthophylls) from the sugars and starches start to show - and they’re the golds, browns, purples and reds that we know as autumn colours.

photograph of golden leaves photograph of autumn leaves in a meadow

Silver birch (Betula pendula) is even more attractive after the leaf fall with its white trunk and slender branches supplying a year round refuge for wildlife.

photograph of Silver Birch tree

Song thrushes will smash open snail shells on a favourite stone or obvious rock, known as an anvil.

photograph of open snail shells

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Bird pictures from RSPB website.

Other photos and all text by Michelle Fountain.

Ditton Parish Council *...in the Garden of England...*
Ditton Court Local Nature Reserve in November

Fieldfare Song Thrush Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris) and Redwings (Tardus iliacus) look quite similar to Song Thrushes in size, shape and behaviour. They stand very upright and move forward with purposeful hops. They are social birds, spending this time of the year in flocks of a dozen or even two hundred strong. Redwing The Redwing is the smallest and has a creamy stripe above the eye and an orange-red flank. Both migrant species flock together, in fields, in the winter, and may be seen visiting the quarry from neighbouring farmland. They will leave the UK in March and April. Food includes berries, worms and dropped apples from the surrounding orchards. Because of declining numbers, the Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos), is a Red List species. It eats snails, which it breaks against stones (anvil) with a flick of the head. Look out for the stones on the quarry surrounded by broken snail shells. Why do leaves change colour in the autumn? Sunlight is trapped in a leaf by a green pigment called chlorophyll. When the days grow short and night time temperatures fall, the tree prepares for winter. Most trees do not grow in autumn and winter, so there is no need for food and the ‘food factory’ closes down. The chlorophyll left in the leaf is not needed and starts to decompose. That means the other pigments (e.g. carotenes and xanthophylls) from the sugars and starches start to show - and they’re the golds, browns, purples and reds that we know as autumn colours. Silver birch (Betula pendula) is even more attractive after the leaf fall with its white trunk and slender branches supplying a year round refuge for wildlife. Song thrushes will smash open snail shells on a favourite stone or obvious rock, known as an anvil. ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ Bird pictures from RSPB website. Other photos and all text by Michelle Fountain.