Finders-in-the-field: Dusky Thrush, Beeley, Derbyshire
Full of cold I had resigned myself to a weekend indoors and not having picked up my camera for a while decided to do some armchair birdwatching to cheer myself up. On Saturday I positioned myself in front of my upstairs window which faces onto the orchard, owned by chatsworth house and rented by Dukes Barn Activity Centre. I had read reports of waxwings in the area so set myself up to stake out some berries on the far side. Saturday I was visited by a Goldcrest and got some lovely pictures as it landed right outside the window, also visiting were a nuthatch, song thrush, redwings and fieldfare and other more common sights.
On Sunday I hoped for a repeat viewing of the Goldcrest so again stationed myself at the window but it wasn’t to be seen. Just about to pack up as the light was fading I noticed a flock overhead which I didn’t recognise the shape of so I snapped them. Also spotted what looked like a blackbird on a far tree but again in the dark and probably the way it was positioned looked to have a long beak so I snapped that too. Then something caught my eye below it, was it the song thrush back again? I zoomed in and saw the breast patterns were different and it appeared more slender, also had white fluffy legs. Could it be a Mistle Thrush?
As dark had now descended I downloaded my pictures to my phone and posted my three queries on a facebook bird ID forum. Immediately I had a response. ‘Err…that’s a dusky thrush’, then another ‘ OMG’, I thought they were winding me up but it became clear as more people commented, friend requested and messaged me that it was no joke!
My first instinct was to remove my location from all my social media as I wasn’t sure what was in the best interests of the bird in terms of the numbers of people visiting that I was hearing would happen. I was also cautious that the bird was on private land and that Beeley being such a tiny village would perhaps struggle to cope with the potential visitors.
Next step was to find out who owned the land – Chatsworth House - and contact them for permission, which I was granted the following morning, and following advice from Mark Thomas of the RSPB contact the charity of my choice to which twitchers would be willing to donate. I called Colin Higginson at The Dukes Barn Charity and explained the situation and put them in touch with Mark, and their excellent planning and welcoming hosting got under way immediately. By the time I released news of the location at 10AM the village was already full of eager twitchers keen to get first sight of the bird, and it didn’t disappoint.
Over the next few days the hospitality and good nature of the village became evident with Heather and Andy at Dukes Barn in particular managing the twitch excellently considering the speed with which it happened. Special mention to Andy - and Jason the driver – and Ted at Chatsworth house who got together and organised free a minibus, paid for by dukes barn, to bring twitchers to the village from Calton Lees Car Park to facilitate easy movement for the villagers at the weekend after we were told to expect 1000 more visitors over the 2 days.
I have been so taken aback by the generosity, kindness and good nature of everyone involved (and affected!) and on a personal note wish to thank all who attended for their donations and consideration of the villagers privacy.
I am now very attached to the little bird and eagerly await reports of sightings each morning. I hope she prospers, wherever she may end up.
Rachel Jones
13 December
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