ONE of my morning walks when I was younger, and more fit than I am today, was to a hill top half-a-mile or so from our village. This was of particular interest at this time of year because many of the trees around that peak bore ripe berries. They included holly, hawthorn and mountain ash, otherwise known as the rowan. There was even a solitary yew, and with the arrival of autumn they all became clustered with ripe and colourful berries.

Many of those berries remained on the branches until the colder weather arrived followed by the celebrations of Christmastide. However, I knew that in winter, that particular clump of bushes and small trees would become a haven for visiting birds, which included some from the Scandinavian countries and other places north of Britain.

The curious thing was that many if not all of the bird visitors who came to feed upon those berries were members of the large family of thrushes. Among them, I could easily identify our native song thrush with the occasional mistle thrush, its larger cousin. All members of the thrush family are enthusiastic eaters of ripe berries, and this year our rowan tree has attracted several thrushes and their cousins, the blackbirds.

Blackbirds, both male and female, also visited our vine to help themselves to the grapes we had left on the vine for them, but the problems came with the arrival of three huge crows, all of whom seemed to have found our grapes and did not like other species feeding beside them. We harvested a tasty selection for ourselves, leaving the rest for our garden birds. I can say that our vine was a popular feeding ground along with the rowan with its ripe yellow berries.

However, the hill-top clump of wild berry-bearing trees also attracted winter visitors from overseas, in particular two species who are relations of our thrush family. They are fieldfares and redwings, both looking very similar to thrushes as their speckled breasts will confirm. Quite frequently, a flock of fieldfares will contain other members of the thrush family; consequently, a flock may appear to comprise nothing but our native thrushes whereas closer inspection will reveal a wider range of birds. I must admit I have never seen a flock of song thrushes.

Apart from its general thrush-like appearance, the fieldfare can be identified by its grey head, long grey rump and warm brown wings. It is also slightly larger than our domestic song thrush but not quite so large as the mistle thrush.

Although redwings are generally regarded as shy birds, they will often gather in flocks, particularly when they are feeding among other members of the thrush family.

Another winter visitor who loves ripe berries and fruit is the colourful waxwing. It is slightly larger than a robin but smaller than a song thrush, albeit with a rather plump appearance enhanced by its warm and soft brown plumage. It moves around in flocks that can often be seen in parks and open gardens where human visitors are also moving around.

Waxwings are not very shy birds but are most handsome with their wings that bear black and white markings tinged with a bright red waxy colour. Their wings also have black and white bar markings tinged with that red waxy colour, hence their names. Another of its features is a soft brown crest that rises from the beak and follows the line of its head between the eyes. Seeing a flock of waxwings on a berry-laden tree is one of winter’s most pleasing sights.

Good St Nick

AS I mentioned in last week’s Diary, next Tuesday is December 6 which, despite the calendar changes of previous centuries, is still widely known as Old Christmas Day. However, it remains the feast day of St Nicholas who was born in Lycia and eventually became Bishop of Myra.

He is the patron saint of children and is known for saving three young girls from a life of prostitution, and then secretly giving them three bags of money to safeguard their future. It is said this giving of presents in secret led to the practice of giving children presents at night in secret; that was done on the eve of December 6 which is St Nicholas’ feast day.

It is from his name that we have the name of Santa Claus, and the entire celebration of Christmas has followed his example of care, kindness and the giving of gifts. As I explained last week, the change of Christmas Day from December 6 to December 25 arose due to changes to our calendar, but nonetheless, December 6 in its guise of Old Christmas Day continued to attract various forms of celebration.

One strange custom was the election of Boy Bishops who held office from December 6, St Nicholas’ Day, until Holy Innocents’ Day, which is December 28. This was also known as Childermass Day when mass was celebrated for all the children slaughtered by King Herod during his search for the Infant Jesus. This has been celebrated since the fifth century and on this day, all church bells are silent.

Following his enthronement, a Boy Bishop held office until St Nicholas’ Day. It appears the custom dates to the ninth century and was considered a very serious rite. A Boy Bishop wore ecclesiastical vestments and carried a crozier as he took part in all church services except those that must be celebrated by an ordained priest. He assisted at all church services involving children who were appointed as chaplains, canons and minor clergy, and during his term of office he was allowed to collect and distribute money, either for charity or even for the enjoyment of himself and his attendants. On his last day of office, a Boy Bishop preached a sermon, took part in a procession and blessed the people.

This custom was abolished by Henry VIII in 1542 but was revived by Queen Mary, only to be abolished again by Elizabeth I. As far as I am aware, the custom has not been revived in its original form, although variations may have been attempted.

Halcyon Days

BY the end of next week, the famous Halcyon Days will have arrived. The widely accepted date is December 11 when, so it is claimed, the next 14 days will bring a period of calm and pleasant weather.

Halcyon is the Greek name for the kingfisher and there is an old legend that says kingfishers nest on the sea during this calm weather, and so the period has become known as the Halcyon Days. That period is also said to bring great happiness and prosperity, however some Greek authorities state that the Halcyon Days begin on December 14, not December 11.

Oddly enough, many kingfishers in Europe spend their winters around the Mediterranean because they dislike hard and rough weather.

There is also an old belief that if peaceful kingfishers meet together on board a ship, it forecasts a period of calm weather.

So perhaps there is some truth in that Greek legend of the Halcyon Days?