Topic: Return of the song thrush

[janet h 1948]

Earlier this week I thought i saw a song thrush in the back garden. I didn't think much about it as we haven't had any for years.
Yesterday there was song thrush in the garden. Today I shouted OH as it was there again. As we stood watching in amazement, another one appeared. Then there were 2 more. A bit like buses I suppose.
Janet.

[Georgie]

How lovely for you.   ;D  I've never had a song thrush in my garden.   ::)

G x

[Carol]

I Like the Song Thrush too and a pair seem to be popping in and out of the conifer tree.  Thrushes have nested in there before, so fingers crossed. ;D

[Marymary]

Is a song thrush different from an ordinary thrush?  Not brilliant at identifying birds [obviously] but we get loads in our garden & I often wished I knew what they all are though I do recognise thrushes.

[Barnowl]

we don't often see thrushes - they're brilliant at dealing with slugs and snails. We always know if one's been around because we find empty cracked snail shells on the garden paving.

[greyhound]

We have plenty of thrushes, we hear them.  But they seem more shy than when I was a child.  They seldom come near the house nowadays, but stick to the bottom of the garden and the meadows beyond.

[manicscousers]

we've got one nesting between our trellis and the fence behind it, keep seeing it diappear with a beak full of twigs, it'll be the first time we've had a thrush nest so we'll have to see what happens  :)

[Toadspawn]

There are two UK thrushes, the song thrush and the mistle thrush. They look simolar but the mistle thrush is larger. The song thrush is the one that sings from the tops of trees whilst the mistle thrush makes a characteristic 'rattle' (don't know how to describe it). The song thrush is the one that uses a stone as an anvil to break open snails.
If it is a song thrush the nest will be made of grass or similar. It will be lined with mud/cow muck or similar which dries hard to give a very smooth surface, no soft material. The eggs will be blue with black spots.
The mistle thush makes a much bulkier and untidy nest of grass etc. It is lined with softer material and the eggs are blue/green with brown spots/blotches.
 

[Marymary]

Thanks for that very clear explanation, Toadspawn, I think it must be mistle thrushes which we have because they are quite big but with the characteristic spotty fronts.  I shall listen closely & see if i can hear a rattle or a song.  :)

[legless]

http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/

that's an excellent site with soundfiles so you can here the songs