Amongst the gloom of recent January days, it is good to see wintering Thrushes from the far north and east (where it is very cold at the moment) feeding in local fields. Apologies for the poor image taken with my compact camera but there are good numbers of Fieldfares, characterised by their grey head, chestnut-brown back and upward stance, and somewhat smaller Redwings, distinguished by their prominent cream-coloured stripe over the eye and of course chestnut flanks, often feeding in mixed flocks with Starlings. Several of the fields between Minchinhampton and the Aston Down Roundabout are holding quite large numbers as indeed are many of the fields around Minchinhampton, Box and Cherington.
