Drunken Fieldfares

The ground was littered with apples, the air was full of the chattering of fieldfares.
I was in the old orchard by the mill stream and following a a good harvest, the apples were providing a welcome food source for these large thrushes from the north.
Fieldfares only tend to eat the apples once they have begun to rot. At this stage, they have softened allowing the birds to be able to devour the flesh of the fruit. But, the fruit has also begun to ferment and so there is also a risk that the birds will consume a significant amount of alcohol.
Whilst the weather remains mild, these birds are remaining quite shy. Once the cold weather hits, it is likely that they will start to come searching gardens for food. Having seen them as garden birds in Iceland, it seems strange that they should be so reluctant to come into contact with humans in their winter haunts.