In the last few weeks up to four Fieldfares have been visiting the garden. They come for the berries on the Vosges whitebeam, which is a relative of the Rowan or Sorbus family. The Fieldfare is not put off by the boisterous Starlings that have occupied the garden and claimed as their own.

It seems that more Fieldfares are around this autumn than in the last few years and groups have been seen all over the country. Last winter, however, we only once saw a Fieldfare here in the garden.

Fieldfares are annual guests in Iceland and almost every winter groups come from Scandinavia and overwinter here. They are known to have bred in North Iceland.

The Fieldfare usually comes from Scandinavia in the autumn and some stay here  in Iceland for the winter.  This autumn very few birds came here and we have not seen any in our garden this winter.

This Fieldfare was seen a few days ago in a warm creek in Ölfus eating small worms.

This is one of the Fieldfares that has made the garden his home in the last month. He is all puffed up and self-important. Perhaps he is eagerly awaiting springtime but we are sure that no one will consciously invade his realm when he is in this mood.

After yesterday’s snowstorm three Fieldfares turned up in the garden. They were obviously hungry and tired and enjoyed frozen apples on feeding trays and branches. They are annual visitors in Iceland and visit our garden from autumn to spring. Then they  leave for their breeding grounds in Scandinavia.