Visiting Fieldfares to Stratford-upon-Avon

... view from our kitchen window at the start of 2010!

The Visiting Fieldfare

I snapped this shot of a visiting Fieldfare, perched on our frozen birdbath outside the kitchen window, just as the snow began to gently settle! An ornamental crabapple tree - the "Malus" - still laden at this time of year with over-ripe bunches of bright red crabapples, had attracted flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares to our garden in Stratford-upon-Avon. Neither variety of bird are native to Britain and the Fieldfare has certainly never been known to breed here. They are both visitors from countries in northern Europe and migrate here in the winter.

Flocks of Fieldfares can sometimes be seen flying overhead in loose formation and can usually be identified by their chattering call, "chack-chack". The Fieldfare is easily identified by its blue-grey head and rump, no doubt giving rise to one of its country names .. 'blue-back'. Over the last few days we have delighted in watching these birds from our kitchen window as they feasted untiringly on the fruit that our crabapple tree provided. At one time we counted about 15 Fieldfares, 20 Redwings, two Blackbirds and a large Wood-Pigeon all sharing our 'more than adequate' wild fruit tree and eventually devouring all but the very last of the red crabapples ... just out of reach on the flimsiest of its outstretched branches!

The hustle and bustle of our summer jewellery shows has given way to a quiet time of reflection and contemplation during the current winter months. Thought must be given to new jewellery designs and new opportunities that a new year will bring - a time of inspiration! So I take a moment to wish our friends and customers a very happy New Year and every success for 2010. Of course in order to achieve 'success' one needs to define the word. And so I offer you Ralph Waldo Emmerson’s definition, which was recently given to me by a good friend, and which I feel deserves our consideration:

To laugh often and much.
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children.
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends.
To appreciate beauty.
To find good in people.
To leave the world a better place,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch,
or a redeemed social condition.
To know that one person breathed easier, because you lived.
This is to have succeeded!

Like the visiting Fieldfares in our garden, it is time to move on and seek new opportunities ... wherever we may find them. Happy New Year to all! We look forward to seeing you again soon and we wish you every success in 2010!