So Spring is really here, it really is.....and just to prove it my local blackbirds are building a nest in my Clematis. I know that blackbirds are very common and in no way endangered but I like them being around, they often hang around when I'm in the garden and they sing beautifully. (I think I notice bird song more since my time in the rain forest last year. The sad thing is that I have no idea what I'm listening to, apart from blackbirds!! In fact I could probably still identify more rainforest birds than English ones on their songs....)
I am really pleased that the blackbirds are having another go at nest building in my garden because last year they had a bit of a disaster. At the same time last year they decided to build a nest in my rambling rose, it always looked like a high risk strategy because the rose was trying its best to rip the trellis off the fence and so it wasn't a very secure place to build. However, they built, they laid an egg, the female sat on it for a week or so and then one day there was a lot of wind, the rose waved about a lot, the branches moved and the nest slipped, end of egg!
I had enjoyed watching them so much that I decided to help out this year, so I bought a blackbird friendly nest box and put it up. Of course they have ignored the sturdy safe option of the nest box but I'm delighted that they've built again and fingers crossed this time I'll get to watch fledglings learn to fly.
A bluebell wood in full bloom this weekend on the Isle of Wight.
