Uzunagach. Thrushes Day 3.

I go to silverberry grove behind Uzunagach again. Target bird is a Thrush with red squares in flacks and breast which I saw twice by biniculars in previous visit but didn't take photos.

I departed city at about 10 am, and after one hour driving reached the point of birding. I took the rubber boots to cross river everywhere. I worried to be cold when go in rubber boots by snow, but snow melted almost all around. By this reason the behavoir of birds was also changed. Thrushes and Greenfinches were foraging on the ground, they ate solverberries, and probably worms in the wet land. Thrushes paid specially attention to the puddles in depressions where thay can both drink and look for food in wet soil.

I walked during 7 hours. After lunch time Thrushes were not acive, not fly a lot. But close to sunset they became active, they gathered together in the tops of trees, and flew down to silverberyy to forage. In the watching time I saw the couple of Sparrowhawks which probably will be nesting here, because they appered here too frequently. they and horsman too often flushed Thrushes. Once it was a very shame, when Dusky Thrush came to the tree, but was flushed firstly by horseman and then by Sparrowhowk in a short time. One time I heard Raven, I looked to the sky and noticed Rooks chasing couple of Ravens.

Species of Thrushes. Dusky Thrush was present, it came two times, the same bird with a big mix of Naumann's Thrush. Redwings were all time before my eyes, and in evening I saw three Redwings in one moment, two of them even were in one frame. Red-throated Thrushes were recorded in a number of five, all of them were photographed. Sounded as a good result for a 7-hours walking, but in real "five Red-throated Thrushes" is absolutely magic achivement. One Red-throated Thrush is luck for us, but five ones in one day is real magic. Filedfire were absent, Blackbirds were a few. Relating to the changing of structure of species of Thrushes, I was thinking about question of Olga Fattakhova - is these Thrushes wintering or migrating birds? As Fieldfires all disappeared, and Blackbirds became a few, I think Thrushes in this point are not in one flock staying together all winter season. Blackbirds are more likely locals, after opening of land they moved to areas where they can to find food in ground. Fieldfires perhaps flew to north, may they were realy flyby migrants. The rest Black-throated Thrushes and all which together with them may be wintering birds.

The target Thrush was not found. However I had very nice time, I very like this mode of birding, moreover when I got home I immidiately wanted go back to the same place. But I exactly understand the birding in silverberry groves is finished, land is opened, Thrushes start to fly away. Next birding in this point will be only in next winter.

1. Dusky Thrush with mix of Naumann's Thush, such as many in Siberia

2. Thare are many Red-throated Thrushes, all different. This one was photographed in previous visits.

3. this one is female Red-throated Thrush

4. this one is male Red-throated Thrush with dark bib, mix with Black-thoated Thrush

5. this one is probably the same bird, bib is quite a dark

6. one more female Red-throated thrush

7. Redwings were at least three birds, these two ones even are in one frame

8. representative of majority, the Black-throated Thrush

9. male Black-throated Thrush with reddish base of tail and some red feathers before eyes