Thanks Fairy and Flobear. Told you I was thick. Now I know it was a male bird and he was obviously collecting food. I'm sure I can find time to sit and watch. Would be really interested to see just where the nest is so I can make sure the cats keep away.
I just found it amazing how 'tame' he was as he took no notice of me at all. Perhaps his quest for food was greater than his fear of me.
Tina, don't say that Not knowing about something and then taking the trouble to ask and find out is the way we all start. My Mr B is fearless too when I'm digging and he has a mission to collect food. Luckily I'm a doggy household so cats tend to keep away - though my two young dogs had to be shut out of the garden for a day when the baby blackbirds were on the ground behind the berberis.
Tina -sitting watching them is vital...that's my excuse anyway
If you get a little bird book you'll be amazed how many species visit your garden and it's great fun watching them and getting to know their habits. Much better than the telly!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Was doing the edge this afternoon and there he was again. Watched as he pecked at the ground for a while then I'm sure, wifey was calling him. Would that be right? He flew into next door but one's garden and disappeared. So am now assuming the nest is there.
Unfortunately, we don't get any small birds any more. Just been reading about Magpies and am beginning to wonder whether they are the reason the small birds have disappeared. Didn't realise they were such predators. Have been blaming the pigeons.
Think I may have found a hobby, other than sitting on my b..
Yep, better than the TV, any day of the week! Haven't had the blackbird creche in the garden for a few years now, but had succesive years of enjoyment watching chicks (which are almost the same size as the adults) finding their feet...er wings.
They do get very used to you, & have often had the male begging at the back door; seemed to particularly enjoy raisins if memory serves me well. Nesting sometimes seems downright suicidal, as I once had a nest of 4 chicks on a small garden lamp, sited just above my head... probably helped incubate the eggs!
we have a wall about fifteen foot high that runs the length of the garden at work and on the top amongst the wisteria there is a nesting duck the pair go off on walks now and again they look so sweet.They have done the same for years apparantly cant wait for babies wondering how on earth they will get down though ..safely i hope
Muddy mare, have you ever seen that clip on one of David Attenborough's very old programmes where the tiny ducks leap out of a very high nest and sort of bounce when they land? Very alarming but I suppose they are so light that they don't come to any harm.
And, joy of joys, mummy blackbird is definitely sitting right down on the nest with just her eyes and beak showing
flo bear I do recall the attenbourgh series and yes they so fluffy and light they would just bounceoooh looks like mum blackbird hatching again keep us informred exciting isnt it
Was doing the edge this afternoon and there he was again. Watched as he pecked at the ground for a while then I'm sure, wifey was calling him. Would that be right? He flew into next door but one's garden and disappeared. So am now assuming the nest is there.
Yep that's right. The female blackbird will do a chuck-chuck-chuck sound that is calling for her mate. They are territorial birds, the male marking his domain that can cover several urban gardens.
Last year I saw a Magpie with his head right inside a blackbird nest in a neighbourly garden and the female was squawking in defence of her eggs/chicks whilst the male could do no more than trot up and down on the lawn trying desperately to mark his territory. It was sad but nature's way I suppose.
Posts
Thanks Fairy and Flobear. Told you I was thick. Now I know it was a male bird and he was obviously collecting food. I'm sure I can find time to sit and watch.
Would be really interested to see just where the nest is so I can make sure the cats keep away.
I just found it amazing how 'tame' he was as he took no notice of me at all. Perhaps his quest for food was greater than his fear of me.
Tina, don't say that
Not knowing about something and then taking the trouble to ask and find out is the way we all start.
My Mr B is fearless too when I'm digging and he has a mission to collect food. Luckily I'm a doggy household so cats tend to keep away - though my two young dogs had to be shut out of the garden for a day when the baby blackbirds were on the ground behind the berberis.
Tina -sitting watching them is vital...that's my excuse anyway
If you get a little bird book you'll be amazed how many species visit your garden and it's great fun watching them and getting to know their habits. Much better than the telly!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Was doing the edge this afternoon and there he was again. Watched as he pecked at the ground for a while then I'm sure, wifey was calling him. Would that be right? He flew into next door but one's garden and disappeared. So am now assuming the nest is there.
Unfortunately, we don't get any small birds any more. Just been reading about Magpies and am beginning to wonder whether they are the reason the small birds have disappeared. Didn't realise they were such predators. Have been blaming the pigeons.
Think I may have found a hobby, other than sitting on my b..
Yep, better than the TV, any day of the week! Haven't had the blackbird creche in the garden for a few years now, but had succesive years of enjoyment watching chicks (which are almost the same size as the adults) finding their feet...er wings.
They do get very used to you, & have often had the male begging at the back door; seemed to particularly enjoy raisins if memory serves me well. Nesting sometimes seems downright suicidal, as I once had a nest of 4 chicks on a small garden lamp, sited just above my head... probably helped incubate the eggs!
we have a wall about fifteen foot high that runs the length of the garden at work and on the top amongst the wisteria there is a nesting duck
the pair go off on walks now and again they look so sweet.They have done the same for years apparantly cant wait for babies wondering how on earth they will get down though ..safely i hope
Muddy mare, have you ever seen that clip on one of David Attenborough's very old programmes where the tiny ducks leap out of a very high nest and sort of bounce when they land? Very alarming but I suppose they are so light that they don't come to any harm.
And, joy of joys, mummy blackbird is definitely sitting right down on the nest with just her eyes and beak showing
flo bear I do recall the attenbourgh series and yes they so fluffy and light they would just bounce
oooh looks like mum blackbird hatching again keep us informred exciting isnt it
chicks hatched! not sure how many
both patents busy feeding.