Good old dad!

This Blackbird knows no fear when it comes to protecting his offspring. Last week it was the cat. Today we watched him take on some Jackdaws, who kept swooping in to pick up the bits falling from some fat balls we had put out. The Blackbird chased them off and we soon realised why - lurking in the bushes was this youngster, not long out of the nest.

So the two of them spent some time picking at the bits on the floor beneath the hanger, with dad always on the look out for those Jackdaws. The youngster has a coat of soft feathers which it grew in the nest. Eventually these will be shed and, if it is a male, they will be replaced with much darker ones like his dad.

There was no sign of mum at this point and it is possible that she was looking after another brood. I hadn't realised that Blackbirds commonly have 2 or 3 clutches a year. There is apparently a high level of loss, mainly from predators, so we were pleased to find that at least one here has survived and looks well.

Not a terribly sharp image, as I had to take it through the window. Another one of the juvenile is here.