Garden Wildlife UK

... or Easter-cardy - looks like he's in a giant nest

Splendid Greg

This morning I'd just come round from squirting two black cats with water when I saw a blackbird fly onto the fence. To one side of the rachis of a wing feather it was snow white. He looked a bit scruffy overall

I have a question to ask!!

Has anyone any idea why the blackbird in my friend's garden is constantly warning the Jay off when it appears in the garden? The Jay just goes to the nut feeder or collects nuts in shells from a ground feeder table and seems quite harmless, but every time it appears the blackbird goes bananas then warns and chases and makes lots of noise the whole time it is there. It doesn't react like that to the Magpie. I thought it might be because it had a nearby nest, but it would surely act like that to the magpie too? Any ideas anyone?

The only thing I can think is that the Jay is unfamiliar to him so is regarded as a threat. Either that or he thinks the Jay is stealing "his" food and should be seen off.

Thank you - maybe it is the unfamiliar bird, that is the answer, as the food the Jay takes is all peanuts - either in shells or otherwise and the Blackbird doesn't eat peanuts!!

Mr Blackbird is still around, Though I did not see too much of him winter and early spring.

The energy they expend trying to get more ... and more ... and more. Always works out the same in the end !!

My mob have stopped feeding young now - getting their breath back before Round 2 I reckon.

Were they seagulls I could hear, Willpar?

I have Blackbirds on the dyke waiting for Sultanas ,sometimes the Sturks beet them.