I mentioned yesterday that Magpies were taking a lot of interest in the garden this last few days and I suspected that as we are at the start of the breeding season they are looking for an easy meal opportunity.  I was thrilled to find a Blackbird's nest late this afternoon.  The birds have chosen a good place to lay, in a shrub close to the house, in fact as close as  that they could be. This is certainly going to protect them from the Magpies.  Finding an active birds nest is always a thrill, even our common breeding species like a Blackbird. The nest contains 3 eggs, all warm, indicating that incubation has commenced. It is going to be fun to see how it develops, (as long as it remains safe.) A good early record of a Speckled Wood Butterfly today.

This afternoon, as the Magpies are present I thought I would make the best of it and took a couple of nice snaps. The first one shows one of them flying in.

………..oh and a photo of the female Dipper this morning, check my PBase Gallery for a diary and mor photos of Dipper……. you will need the password so email me if you haven't got it.  Here is the link.