A park cemetery that is not overly maintained is ideal for birds in winter. Fruit for Blackbirds (Turdus merula), but also Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) is available in addition to what lies under leaves and litter, for example Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna). The Hawthorn and the Common Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), also known just as Barberry, are colorful shrubs with red fruits that can grow to be several meters high. Blackbirds and Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris) in particular feed on the red fruits in winter. Berries and leaves of both Hawthorn and Barberry can hang on the branches until late winter. If you take your time and look closer, you might have the chance to meet a less frequent winter visitor. As shown here in the picture of a Redwing (Turdus iliacus) that had mixed in with the other thrushes.
The onset of winter in Germany usually doesn’t last long. It snowed during the night. But soon it will thaw again. The air is then cold and clear. Most of the areas in an extensive park cemetery still lie still, as if packed in cotton wool, under a 5 cm thick blanket of snow. Only the paths are temporarily cleared by a snow plow. It’s not quite winter yet, but there is snow and the sun even comes out now and then. These ideal conditions for walking with a camera in a park cemetery are no longer common these days. You can only occasionally hear a subdued chirping from the songbirds.
The individual distance between thrushes and people varies greatly. Some have obviously gotten used to the cemetery visitors and allow the approach to be less than 8 meters. Others fly away when they first appear. If you are patient and perhaps crouch down in front of a tree trunk, you can hope that a blackbird will dare to come a little closer while looking for food. This is how the pictures were created.
When feeding, Blackbirds and other thrushes keep looking up. A sparrowhawk or another thrush could attack from above. Blackbirds have to be particularly vigilant in winter. Enemies like the Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) are lurking everywhere.
In order to meet the growing demand for top images of the rarer species of Palaearctic Bird-lens.com has specifically made trips to remote places. Additionally every chance is used, if a rare bird is around the homeground. This to do everything to ensure excellent photos of the Birds of the Western Palearctic. The yield of pictures also of rare Western Palaearctic birds is very good. There are other nice images of birds, that you will find behind the tab “Picture Shop“. Just give a notice if you need a picture of a bird which is not online.