A day at the Zoo!

Thrushes, are one of my favourite bird families. They are generally, along with chats, quite quirky and also subtly beautiful. So when a rare thrush or chat appears, I tend a get a bit twitchy!

So when a very handsome looking male Black-Throated Thrush was discovered - a rare visitor to the UK from the east and a new bird for me - I was more than tempted, particularly as it was just an hour from home. Some what bizarrely, it had been discovered in the heart of Whipsnade Zoo!

With it still showing nicely on Saturday 21/12 and seeing the endless stream of frame-filling pics - I caved! I persuaded Em to spend a day at the zoo and bought tickets for the following day. I'm rarely keen to travel too far just for one bird, unless there's something else to see. But even without the thrush, it would be a decent day out.

Thankfully, yesterday's weather was pretty nice for the most part and as we made our way through the entrance building, the sun was shining nicely! We soon stumbled on the right spot not far away, easily found with a neat crescent of some 40 birders already staked out around it's favoured area about 10:20am. It had apparently buried itself in the heart of a hawthorn bush and at the right angle, I was able to tick the tail end at least, through a small gap in the bush!

After some 20 minutes, with a very patient wife in tow, I finally got to see the bird in it's entirety, as it climbed towards the top of the bush in full view. What a treat!

We were now all hoping he would move even closer, into it's favoured berry tree - 15-20 feet in front of me. Luckily, he soon obliged, but initially decided to lurk just out of view!

I was willing him to come out fully into the sunlight, cloaking this side of the berry tree. Come on, you know you want to! Christmas soon came early, as he popped out to gorge on the berries, affording some astounding and memorable views. I was happy just to see the Black-Throated Thrush and maybe get a half decent photo, but this was mad! 

A Redwing also popped out for a bit, also giving some unusually good views.

We had a good wander round and grabbed some lunch. Em then wanted to see the Sea Lions - while I popped back for 15 minutes for another look at the Thrush. This time he was in the little pigpens adjacent to the berry tree. But not for long, soon returning to the berries where again, he showed incredibly well.

I had my fill of the thrush and so we continued our circuit of the zoo, enjoying some stunning animals up close, the best probably a tiny baby Rhino and two stunning European Lynx. Such a good day out and some of the best views of a rare bird you could ever wish to see!