Spread-blackbirded

Our local blackbird. He is instantly recognisable, as he has lost all feathers above both eyes.

Over the course of this Spring the blackbird territories seem to have shifted around. The blackbird with the very distinctive song pattern is still here, but his territory is now a bit further away. and does not incorporate our house. “Baldy” is often in our front garden, but never at the back, The ridge line of our house may mark a blackbird boundary line. Last week another two blackbirds started building a nest in a small hydrangea at the back, but abandoned their efforts - the high winds perhaps, although also too easy for cats to prey on them.

Our local blackbird spent some time spread-eagled on our front lawn. Too hot, but it may also be a way of trying to deal with parasites. He may have a mite infestation. In these very dry conditions blackbirds and thrushes will be finding it increasingly difficult to find food, the soil is too hard and their prey will have moved down through the soil to damper conditions.