Since early spring  we have got very used to the urgent tones of a few singing Song Thrushes, loud and clear from around 5 am, often starting in the pre-dawn gloom.

Stop! (c. Oran O’Sullivan)

Things have quietened down since, the action is now with fledged young and adults patrolling the edges of lawns, sharing the space with Blackbirds and the odd Mistle Thrush.  

Rightly claimed in my opinion, to be our best songbird, they are pretty good to look at too. The rich brown tones are offset by butter and buff tones underneath, with clear dark chevrons in contrast.  They have a lovely proportion and the prominent dark eye sports a pale ring.  That large eye means they can start their daily routine, very early.  

Look! (c. Oran O’Sullivan)

In dry periods, Song Thrushes feed mainly on snails, as earthworms go deeper into the soil and are unavailable as a prey item.   They famously use a large stone as a ‘Thrushes anvil’, to smash the tough shell of the snail.  They are of course great hunters of earthworms and the recent rainy periods have facilitated and encouraged them around freshly mown grass.  The Song Thrush should be the only Molluscicide at work in your garden.. Slug pellets from a box are a very poor second compared to this great performer, and hunter.

Listen! ( c.Oran O’Sullivan)

Enjoy! (c. Oran O’Sullivan)