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Post by Louise on Jan 2, 2012 8:48:11 GMT
I watched this yesterday (or was it the day before ) and they did a piece on mistletoe, i didn't know much about it and it was really interesting. It showed just how much the plant damages and distorts the hosts growth. A guy in Somerset was interviewed because his apple orchard is affected very very heavily with this parasite and it was quite shocking to see the extent of the damage done - a real eye-opener infact. The bark on the stems being so heavily encrusted that entire limbs have to be removed. In 2 areas close to me there are trees that get it and 1 of the areas hasn't been raided - the other was plundered in early December (it would have been soft and nasty by the time xmas came). The existing growth of it are so big (and presumably heavy) now i would expect them to just fall to the ground - does that happen ?
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Post by Cherry on Jan 2, 2012 9:18:29 GMT
I don't think so Louise. Twiggy bits come off it with the pecking of the birds. I had a Bramley apple tree in this condition and it caught on many trees in the neighbourhood because of the birds spreading the berries. I spread it to a crab apple and a rowan tree.
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Post by Louise on Jan 2, 2012 9:46:48 GMT
Ah right, the orchard owner said a certain type of bird come and eat the berries, do most berry eating birds go for them ?
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Post by steve on Jan 2, 2012 9:49:21 GMT
I know the Mistlethrush does
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Post by Fractal on Jan 2, 2012 14:22:35 GMT
...and Fieldfares along with Wood Pigeons.
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Post by Louise on Jan 7, 2012 13:22:13 GMT
I didn't know fieldfares did. Only just realised wood pidgeons ate berries last week when i saw them in the bushy holly tree in the garden behind, they looked quite amusing trying to keep their balance in it !
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Post by sweetpea on Jan 7, 2012 23:35:26 GMT
Every time I go to daughter's at Cheltenham I see loads of mistletoe in the Forest of Dean area through Gloucester and Cheltenham. seems to be a good area for it all the way up to Hereford.
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Post by hywel on Jan 8, 2012 8:13:44 GMT
There isn't much around here. I was thinking of trying to get it to grow on my apple trees in the garden, but if it damages them that much, maybe I won't. They are only young trees.
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Post by peony on Jan 8, 2012 9:48:58 GMT
I didn't know fieldfares did. Only just realised wood pidgeons ate berries last week when i saw them in the bushy holly tree in the garden behind, they looked quite amusing trying to keep their balance in it ! They like pyracantha berries too Louise
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Post by Louise on Jan 8, 2012 13:41:13 GMT
Interesting, thanks
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Post by Fractal on Jan 20, 2012 8:15:17 GMT
I didn't know fieldfares did. Only just realised wood pidgeons ate berries last week when i saw them in the bushy holly tree in the garden behind, they looked quite amusing trying to keep their balance in it ! About five winters ago some big clumps of mistletoe I had sown in a crab apple and a Sorbus Joseph Rock many years before at work were stripped of berries by a flock of Fieldfares.
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Post by Lou78W on Jan 20, 2012 8:21:03 GMT
I noticed the other day that the mistletoe at the GC is bulking up nicely. I thought that some of it may have gone "missing" over the festive season Fieldfares?.....don't think I've ever seen one
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Post by Louise on Jan 20, 2012 8:36:45 GMT
You probably have Lou and just not been close enough to recognise it. I too am still driving past 3 enormous clumps that weren't raided during December.
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Post by Lou78W on Jan 20, 2012 17:06:56 GMT
To be honest Louise......not sure I know what one looks like ....must check up in my bird book...
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Post by Fractal on Jan 20, 2012 22:25:44 GMT
In my humble opinion, Fieldfares are one of the most beautiful of all birds. I love their grey heads and tawny backs. Hear them often but don't see them too often from late autumn until February. www.johnoliverphotography.co.uk/
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