For several days now I’ve been watching a pair of blackbirds through our patio doors as they’ve been pulling worms from the ground, then pecking them to pieces in the grass.
It has always given me great pleasure to watch them tilt their heads as they listen, then pounce and pull, their prize usually somewhat larger than themselves and not always giving in easily.
Both male and female have been busy lately, flying off to the hedge with beaks full of broken morsels hopefully to feed their young.
Today, I have seen two fledglings, so my suspicions were correct.
Last year, we had four successful broods, varying from 2 to 3 chicks in each.
We also had a lonely chick left to fend for himself, but hopefully he did OK. Blackbirds seem to do very well here.
‘Dad’ has been on nosh duty today. As he gathers bugs, ants, worms or even bread from next door’s bird table behind our fence, the little guys stand there fluffing their wings cheeping with their bright yellow beaks wide open, waiting for the goodies to be dropped inside.
I curse as the camera is still in the car (we’ve been house hunting again today) and I miss what may have been a fantastic shot of an adult feeding its baby as it wobbled on the fence (provided my hands didn’t shake and they didn’t flutter out of focus) .
My pictures today are therefore again from google images. Hopefully though I’ll be able to take some of my own to share with you.
It is so much fun to watch the birds. You are lucky to have young ones to watch too 🙂
Yes, our garden is usually very busy with our feathered friends.