Scandinavian visitors

All through October various birds that breed in Scandinavia, or even further east in Siberia, have been flooding into Britain, looking for a better supply of food and more congenial conditions in which to spend the winter. Here are a few to listen out for. Although they're mostly visually stunning birds, they are not so easy to recognise at a distance, being easily confused with various commoner resident birds: but their calls are distinctive and are the best alert to their presence nearby. Redwings can often be heard travelling at night.

Redwing Turdus iliacus
Similar to, but slightly smaller than a song thrush - look out for the bold creamy-white eye-stripe and ruby-red patch on their flanks.

Calls: both the drawn-out, sibilant 'tsee' and the nasal 'chug's are from the redwing.

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
Almost the size of a mistle thrush - look out for their blue-grey rumps and heads, and peachey chests with dark flecks.

Calls and snatch of subsong from a single bird with a mixed flock of redwings and other fieldfares in the background.

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
Similar to chaffinches, which they replace at more northerly latitudes - look out for the white patch on their rump and white bellies.

Calls from a flock feeding on beech mast, which they are particularly drawn to.

Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus
Very like a starling in flight - look out for their overall fawn colour, bright yellow markings on wing and tail, large crest and dark facial mask (giving them an angry look).

Calls from a group feeding on hawthorn berries in a hedge.