Disturbed a blackbird's nest.....
Discussion
Finally got around to getting a new section of trellis to support some climbing plants on part of our boundary wall.
While gently removing the plants from the old broken trellis, I nearly shat myself as a blackbird flew out. There was a nest with 4 eggs in about the only bit of the plant which was thick enough to hide it. I'm amazed as it's only a few feet from the side door to the house, and I've never seen any movement. Obviously I replaced the plant as carefully as possible without touching either the eggs or the nest. Have been keeping an eye on the plant all afternoon (from a distance) and haven't seen the bird come back, but I could have missed it.
Trellis can obviously wait, but do they come back quite easily or will I have scared them away?
While gently removing the plants from the old broken trellis, I nearly shat myself as a blackbird flew out. There was a nest with 4 eggs in about the only bit of the plant which was thick enough to hide it. I'm amazed as it's only a few feet from the side door to the house, and I've never seen any movement. Obviously I replaced the plant as carefully as possible without touching either the eggs or the nest. Have been keeping an eye on the plant all afternoon (from a distance) and haven't seen the bird come back, but I could have missed it.
Trellis can obviously wait, but do they come back quite easily or will I have scared them away?
Needless to say those eggs won't be hatching.Got two fledging in our hedge. Was about to get the hedge trimmer going and realised why I was seeing adults around. The nippers have left the nest for whatever reason and are now hiding in the hedge. Puss has been keeping an eye on them as well. But its not puss I am worried about, its the magpies. They are ruthless.
Watch out for the fledging leaving the nest but not flying, as the pair in my hedge have done (probably disturbed from their nest). They hang around locally with the adults feeding them and getting very vocal when there is threat nearby. Pair of magpies had one last year and it was in bits and ate before I could get out the house to it.
Few house martin nests in the area as well and the magpies try to get them.
Few house martin nests in the area as well and the magpies try to get them.
It's not only magpies. My mother had a nest box with bluetits. She didn't see the parents flying back and forth so went out to have a look. She found another, bigger entrance hole had been made in the box with very rough edges, the chicks were gone. She had about three woodpeckers that feed at her bird table in the winter and apparently woodpeckers will take chicks. Her bird table must be cursed as she's also had sparrow hawks hunting small birds from it. As for magpies, I've seen a paid of them peck to death a thrush on our lawn. They're vermin and there's nobody keeping their numbers down anymore.
Edited by SwanJack on Friday 15th June 14:08
Was intending to clean my car first thing today, before the sun was too hot. However there was a young Blackbird sitting on the drive between the car and some bushes, so I decided to just leave it be and come back to the car later. About 20 mins later I was standing at the window looking down at the bird when I spotted a black & white cat come round the corner, so I rushed downstairs & out the front door & just saw the cat doing a runner, couldn't see the Blackbird at first, but then spotted it under the car, so I assumed all was OK.
Later in the afternoon I just had a quick look outside to see where the young Blackbird was and spotted it almost motionless in the middle of the drive. On closer inspection was was sort of slumped there, just twitching a bit. I picked it up and moved it into the shade, but it was very unresponsive. I think the cat may have got the parent, and the youngster having been neglected for 7 or 8 hours was just too far gone.
Later in the afternoon I just had a quick look outside to see where the young Blackbird was and spotted it almost motionless in the middle of the drive. On closer inspection was was sort of slumped there, just twitching a bit. I picked it up and moved it into the shade, but it was very unresponsive. I think the cat may have got the parent, and the youngster having been neglected for 7 or 8 hours was just too far gone.
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