NOVEMBER 2005. GREY CHEEKED THRUSH.Northaw great wood,herts.
This small american thrush turned up well inland and caused a very large twitch during its stay.I was able to visit the site a few times to see this lovely little bird, and with sarah on one occassion.I was surprised by the size of the bird compared to our thrush's,the upperparts were brown with darker edges to the wing feathers,the upper tail and rump were a more richer colour and the undertail white,the underparts were a grey white on the breast and belly and a more solid grey down the flanks,it had distinctive spots on the breast with larger and darker spots under the throat and very distinct dark malar stripes,the cheeks were grey tinged and a buffish eyering was noted as well as a pale base to the lower mandible.The bird blended in very well amongst the leaf litter and it moved extremely fast when it ran from place to place, a lovely bird to see and obtain some nice pics aswell.