Back in January I wrote about the birds I’ve recorded in my garden since moving in (see Garden bird records). I would like to make a further addition to that hot off the press: Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus.
Many of you may not know what this bird is. The nature of it’s name does sound rather mysterious. Apparently the name ouzel is an old name for common blackbird. The ring comes from the banding of white around its neck and chest. The scientific name Turdus relates to thrush and torquatus to collared.
In writing the previous paragraph a picture may have formed in your head. The bird looks like a blackbird but has this white crescent shaped collar. The one in the garden I think was a female as it was more dark brown than black. It had hints of silvery edges around the wing feathers. It also seemed slightly bigger than the usual Blackbird Turdus merula.
The bird is a migrant during this time of year. It is normally found in upland or moorland where it breeds at altitudes of up to 1140m. The conversation status of the bird according to the RSPB is a red listed one.
For further info on this bird see: Nick Baker on Ring Ouzel
I was upstairs just opening a window around 5.30pm and thought how beautiful the sky looked. Isaac’s room faces east so the sunset was behind but the light was that glorious autumn glow!
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a movement near our grey willow (Salix sp) tree near the footpath that runs to the summer house. I immediately had that inward check as I saw the unusual markings on the blackbird. Thinking it was a blackbird with partial albinism was momentary. The markings were too defined. That thought was a split second later overtaken by it’s a Ring Ouzel!
Running down the stairs I called to Isaac get the bird book so I could check it whilst he looked it up! I ran to get a closer look from the kitchen. It was unmistakably a Ring ouzel!
The bird hopped around the garden for a minute and then took off to the neighbour’s birch where it was obscured by the branches.
This is the best sighting I’ve had of one. The only other time I recall was a distant sight of one flying. I was a teenager in Cornwall birdwatching on the Penwith peninsular. I had to take the word of the person I was with that I had seen it! So to see this one for myself so close was a real treat!
You may think what I am about to write does not follow but it is related.
I have started a study about being fathered by our Heavenly Father, with a few other men. The book we’re looking at is by John Eldredge; Fathered by God. I think the Father was behind this. He knows how I love to see a new species or one I’ve not seen clearly before. He surprised me this time. I’m still taken aback by the encounter as I consider it.
Another encounter this week was finally having a Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopus major) on our bird feeder. It was feeding on the fat balls. Debbie shouted that one out, she spotted it as I was in another room. We’ve had them flying over or being in the trees either side of our property but not in the garden. The garden count with the woodpecker and the Ring ouzel is now at 34 species.
A goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) has taken niger seeds at last during the past week. A charm of around 50 flew over the house landing in the tall trees a few doors down.