Thou shalt not covert thy neighbour's Fieldfare

The first snow of the year has driven the large Fieldfare flocks that usually inhabit the local fields into the village. The orchards behind Ripon College held flocks of at least 250 birds. By using the complex technique of sitting quietly by a treetrunk and allowing the birds to approach I managed to get some photos of these cracking large winter thrushes:

The Fieldfares were disturbed regularly by the trainee vicars at the college, who were out smoking and snowballing. On a Sunday, the day of rest? I must remember that thou shalt not covert thy neighbour's Fieldfare. Fortunately after any disturbance they quickly returned, feeding ravenously on any exposed fruit, while constantly calling to each other. Just like the Fieldfares really. Other birds feeding on the fruit included Redwing (below), a female Blackcap, Blackbirds and Chaffinches.

With the snow also came the opportunity to take some photos in our garden that were not completely dark. I spent an hour or so this morning with the local winter residents: