It was Saturday evening and  a knock at the door when answered revealed a neighbour with yet another box! As is usual with this kind of thing it contained a seriously injured bird, this time a Blackbird. I didn’t need an explanation but one was delivered anyway. She explained to me that it had been taken from the jaws of the cat that lives at No 19. I happen to know that this cat in the last few months has been responsible for the death of a Collared Dove, a Sparrow and now this Blackbird was going to be it’s next victim. I have to ask this question. If you know that you own a cat that is constantly catching and killing birds then why don’t you keep it in. That might at first seem cruel but then if you had watched the Blackbird, which of course died before the night was out, suffer with holes in it’s back made by cat fangs and a hopelessly broken wing as well as a pierced eyeball, then that is cruelty beyond explanation.  I feel that the time has come when owners of cats who knowingly allow them to kill garden birds should be prosecuted under the Wildlife and Countryside act which states that it is against the law to harass or harm wild birds. When will this persecution of our native birdlife be stopped?

As it happens the Blackbird was the one that has been in my garden and surrounding area for the last few weeks and the garden today was a less beautiful place without him in it!

A magical scene greeted me earlier on this morning when the female Blackcap, not seen for a few day, was on the bird table feeding on a fat ball. Two male Siskin wanted to have a look to see if there was anything for them. The Blackcap aggressively defended her breakfast and drove the two Siskins off who never the less stayed close to the table waiting for an opportunity. All three were very attractive and beautiful birds and it really was a treat to see them from the warmth and comfort of my kitchen window.
My friend Gill came for coffee this morning and as we chatted she mentioned that there were some interesting ducks near to her house close to the edge of the City and the main Railway Station. There is a flood relief system and she described what sounded like Tufted Ducks. I had a trip out there and didn’t see any interesting ducks but spotted a Litte Grebe.

It was working alongside, and close to the bank on the River Exe in one of the busiest parts of the City only yards from a main road and the main railway station.
Also there, as usual were a few Cormorant and of course the immature gull above.