Monday 2 June 2014

Blackbird Fledgling

I was looking out of the kitchen window the other day and saw a blackbird hopping around the patio. It was so unusual that I mentioned it to Mick, commenting on how we don't often see birds on the ground in this part of the garden.

After I'd taken Archie for his morning constitutional, I was having a wander around the garden when something next to me made me jump. As I looked to my side, there, about two feet away from me, perched on the arm of the garden chair was a baby blackbird. He didn't move at all, apart from his head which moved from side to side as he gawped at me.

I wondered if I'd scare him if I shot inside for my camera, but decided it was worth the risk. He was still there when I returned and I just managed to get a quick photo before Archie realised there was something invading his territory and started barking, scaring the little blackbird away.


He flew over the fence in to next door's garden and throughout the day I noticed a couple of adult blackbirds sitting on the fence, so I suppose they were looking after him until he found his feet.

I'm just hoping that next door's cat isn't as observant as Archie.

38 comments:

  1. What a sweetie , thank you for the share .
    We are awaiting blackbird hatchings in our treetop by the barn , should be any day now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He's so cute, it was nice to be able to get so close without him flying away. I hope the hatchings go well and that you manage to catch them fledging when it's time.

      Delete
  2. I have often heard people say brown birds are boring. They have obviously never seen a juvenile blackbird or starling. What a lovely capture.
    Blackbirds are so vulnerable at this stage. I wish owners of cats would make sure they wore bells on their collars, this would give the young birds the chance to fly...........

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You don't have to look too close to see how beautiful brown birds are. Cats are only doing what comes naturally to them, but what irks me is that they kill for fun. We used to have a cat and he always wore a collar with a bell on it.

      Delete
    2. I hate to see a cat tease its victim.
      I had a cat many years ago and he always wore his collar and a bell.
      Nella also has a jingle that I put on her collar during the bird breeding season.:)

      Delete
    3. I don't need to bother with Archie, he's so lazy that he pulls up short of actually getting near anything.

      Delete
  3. A cute bird! I'm so glad everytime my garden was visited by some birds. They help me to controll grasshopper and caterpillars in my home garden. Love the little bird!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Birds can definitely be friends to the gardener but they can be pests too. Blackbirds enjoy stealing fruit and pigeons can strip brassica plants in no time at all. I don't mind though, I think we just need to take precautions to keep our crops safe, I much prefer being visited by our feathered friends.

      Delete
  4. OK, here's a puzzle for you: have you ever seen a baby Wood Pigeon? We get loads of Pigeons hers, but we have never ever seen a baby one / fledgeling. Do they only leave the nest when they are completely grown-up?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have seen baby wood pigeons, not recently, but we used to see them at my mum and dad's house. We used to get lots of different birds in the garden there, though they lived on the edge of farmland so they had lots of different birds to those I get here.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJune 02, 2014

      Mark young ones tend to be slightly smaller and lack the white patch on the neck. Cheers, Flighty.

      Delete
    3. I'd never noticed the lack of the white patch but they're usually a little smaller and duller in colour.

      Delete
  5. Oh how sweet. I'm amazed he didn't fly away.

    X x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought I'd scare him when I moved to get my camera, but he didn't seem bothered until Archie decided to bark.

      Delete
  6. Beautiful. Blessings, Catherine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He's such a cutie, beautiful markings.

      Delete
  7. I hope he finds his feet/wings quickly as there are other creatures that might just take a fancy to him.
    Love from Mum
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's sad how hard they have to strive to survive. That's nature I suppose.

      Delete
  8. AnonymousJune 02, 2014

    Wonderful picture, I hope that it's okay. Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do too. His parents seemed to be looking after him well so I hope they've kept him safe.

      Delete
  9. Oh you were so lucky to get a photo Jo. Whenever similar events happen in our garden the subject has always disappeared by the time I get my camera and get back out. I hope that this little one thrives.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't think for one minute he'd hang around once I made a move but it was worth a try, I'm not usually so lucky.

      Delete
  10. So cute! I wonder what he was thinking as he watched you? Xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I dread to think. I just hope he was ok after he flew off, though his parents were around all day and didn't seem bothered by anything so it looks good for him.

      Delete
  11. It looks like he's saying "Mum what's this" lol ..... so cute x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He was certainly very inquisitive, watching what I was doing. He was taking everything in.

      Delete
  12. Young blackbirds are beautiful - you can see the family resemblance to thrushes can't you? I guess he was waiting patiently for lunch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This photo really shows the resemblance to the thrush. His parents were around all day so I expect they were bringing him some tasty treats.

      Delete
  13. He's lovely - hope he stays around and makes his home close by :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So do I. We had a pair of blackbirds nesting in the hedge at the front of our house a few years ago but they never returned to nest there again. I think there's too much danger for them from all the cats in the street.

      Delete
  14. I hope that the slugs have slugged off and that the blackbird is OK, there was one (blackbird) hopping around in our garden today that seemed reluctant to fly off, perhaps he was a baby too, that didn't occur to me! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The slugs are still around, unfortunately. At least they'll make a tasty treat for this little blackbird when he's grown a little and can fend for himself.

      Delete
  15. Love your new friend! We are enjoying an American robin family that build a nest on the pergola by our back door. Mom and Dad take turn baby sitting and feeding the family. P. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's so entertaining watching the comings and goings of birds, especially when there's babies involved.

      Delete
  16. I love seeing birds in the garden. That's a lovely bird photo on your post. I find it very hard to capture photos of birds and I've almost given up trying.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wouldn't have got this photo if he hadn't just sat there and posed for me. I think you need a lot of patience to photograph wildlife. I love having birds visit the garden, I entice them with all sorts of lovely treats so I get quite a good variety which come to the feeders.

      Delete
  17. Ahhhh, beautiful little guy, you just can't beat a blackbird fledgling!xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He was so cute, just sitting there looking at me. I'm sure he'd have hopped on my hand if I'd held it out.

      Delete

 
!-- Start of StatCounter Code for Blogger / Blogspot -->