Why didn't the mistlethrush sing?

2:22pm Friday 25th April 2008

Last winter Malcolm Reeves was delighted that the mistlethrush was a regular visitor to his four-acre smallholding near Ross.

But what has confused Malcom, a contributor to the Hereford Times Bird Patrol website, was that this year for some reason the mistlethrush did not sing.

"The mistlethrush was a regular visitor to the mistletoe-covered apple trees all winter, but not one bird has been heard singing. I find this most strange," he said.

Can anyone provide the answer for Malcolm?