I had a surprise today when after noticing lots of activity in the heavily berry laden  Holly Tree in the front garden, I looked out and there was a couple of Redwing in the apple tree!  If you live in a rural setting then this would hardly warrant a mention, but we are on the edge of the city of Exeter and Redwings are very infrequent in my garden. Only once previously, more than 10 years ago, did we have them (to the best of my knowledge). On that day we had a blanket of snow, in its self a notable rare event, and they were feeding with Fieldfare on  the berries from a Pyracantha bush.  This time  they stayed around for most of the day and I last saw them at around 3.15. They were nervously perched very high at the top of the tree and reacting to every other bird around,  then flying off to feed again before returning here and there to their new vantage point.

Here's  a quote from the RSPB web site: :

 "They roam across the UK's countryside, feeding in fields and hedgerows, rarely visiting gardens, except in the coldest weather when snow covers the fields". They are a winter visitor from Northern Europe, particularly Scandinavia. A few pairs do breed in Northern Scotland.

So you can understand why I  am taken aback to see them in the garden.  Firstly it is not cold enough for snow and secondly,  the hedgerows are laden with lots and lots of ripe fruit and berries.  so why are they here in our neighbourhood and more particularly my garden area?  I am not sure, but they are very welcome! I hope it is a precursor for more interesting visitors, Waxwing for example.

Redwing are Britain's smallest Thrush species being related to the Blackbird, Song Thrush and American Robin for example.