The first Blackbird fledglings in the garden

It's too wet to undertake anything outdoors today, the 23rd April, St Georges Day. I am pretty sure that had the Dippers not been washed out of their nest last week, as they were, they would certainly have perished over the last 24 hours. The rain has been never ending today and it was a nice surprise to see in the garden, a newly fledged baby Blackbird – Turdus merula. This species breeds in or around my garden every year with their main threat being the local cats and also Magpies – Pica pica. To actually see a healthy youngster, strong enough to avoid at least the cats, and out of the nest where they are not vulnerable to the magpie is very pleasing. Almost every year I find the remains of them on my lawn where cats have killed them, so fingers crossed. It chose anasty day to leave the nest in the wet but seems healthy enough.

2 responses to “The first Blackbird fledglings in the garden”

jacquie butler

April 24, 2012 at 10:19 am

First blackbird fledgling in my garden (a mile or so from you) on Sunday. I seem to have 3 breeding pairs in or around the garden as 3 males have been collecting food and vigorously defending their right to it for several weeks. Also song thrush and house sparrow fledgling being fed last week. The photo of the tree pipit is stunning.

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Neil

April 24, 2012 at 9:09 pm

Just spent the last half hour catching up as I realised I had been on here for a bit. I loved the hoopoe shots, a bird I photographed in Lanzarote last year, but didn’t require your fieldcraft skills as it was just sat there feed on a 4 star hotel lawn! Loved the dipper shots too, got to be among the best I’ve seen if not the best.
Are you still shooting with the Pentax K5 + Sigma 500mm?

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