A fledgling Mistle Thrush in the Devon wood

I can hear the Mistle Thrush alarm call again. Either that or an over-enthusiastic football fan is using a rattle. I spotted the nest here a few weeks ago when I was enjoying wandering through the woods. Their nest is high up in the ivy.

Mistle Thrushes are large, handsome birds. They’re also very wary and aggressive. This one thought I was a threat from the first rustle of a leaf, crackle of a twig or sign of movement.

As I prepare to leave I spot the reason why. There’s a beautiful fledging Mistle Thrush plonked on a branch looking very concerned for itself in this new world.

I work my way closer to it, approaching behind the natural cover of the trees. I’m fooling no-one, not even a fledgling. It can see and hear me all the way.

It may be small and still downy but it has all the observation skills of an adult. I particularly like its Dennis Healey eyebrows:

I select the most decorative background in the light of a low evening sun and work my way in a circle around the fledgling on my way out of the wood. I don’t want to spook it and make it jump onto the woodland floor. It will be in danger there from natural predators.

As I leave its eyes follow me the whole way.

My, what big feet it has.

What a precious sight.