The two blackbird chicks have hatched out in our garden! Pics here! :)

We have loads of little roost boxes in the garden, as well as some nest boxes. But did the blackbirds decide to nest in one of those? Nope! The hanging plant pot right next to our door was the ideal place apparently!

Aww fab pics Eleanor

Oh Eeanor thats beautiful. We dont get many birds as too many cats here. My Mum and Dad get loads and have lots of nesting boxes its so lovely to watch them. Springwatch is one of my fav programmes to watch! Great pics of the little fellas or lasses!

Awesome, great to see

Darcy-may wrote:Aww fab pics Eleanor

I'm happy!

inez maria wrote:Oh Eeanor thats beautiful. We dont get many birds as too many cats here. My Mum and Dad get loads and have lots of nesting boxes its so lovely to watch them. Springwatch is one of my fav programmes to watch! Great pics of the little fellas or lasses!

We used to get cats, until we got Dempsey. > Used to watch Springwatch as well, but I think it went downhill when Simon King left. Loved him!

MatLogan wrote:Awesome, great to see

Yeah we've been keeping an eye on the nest for a while now. Glad to see them doing so well!

Arrrr great pics

Great stuff

We've had no takers for the bird box I made last year so far ... had bluetits in it the first year but nowt at the mo

mind you, there is really thick spider web over the front at the mo, so there's prob a feckoff mahoooosive spider in there gobblin up the birds

The two chicks are really sweet!

But mummy blackbird is pretty stupid - she built the nest right by the side of our front door!

Mike wrote:Arrrr great pics

Thanks!

Andy wrote:Great stuff

We've had no takers for the bird box I made last year so far ... had bluetits in it the first year but nowt at the mo

mind you, there is really thick spider web over the front at the mo, so there's prob a feckoff mahoooosive spider in there gobblin up the birds

We have a massive load of ivy all up the front wall, around the trellises and down the sides of the door. Forms an archway over our two pathways leading into each section of garden as well. I think that's why the birds nest there. Loads of shelter.

Caryll wrote:The two chicks are really sweet!

But mummy blackbird is pretty stupid - she built the nest right by the side of our front door!

Yeah, but you have to admit it's a safe place!

Safer than most, I agree!

Yup! Right next to the place where we put the bird seed. Away from predators. Sheltered from direct sun and rain. Nice and quiet.

Lovely pics Eleanor, and so glad to see that the baby birds have survived our on-going winter.

Andy - you need to get your birdbox down and clean out the remains of last year's nest - most garden birds just won't nest on top of (or even near) last year's nests.

Lynda wrote:Lovely pics Eleanor, and so glad to see that the baby birds have survived our on-going winter.

Andy - you need to get your birdbox down and clean out the remains of last year's nest - most garden birds just won't nest on top of (or even near) last year's nests.

Me too! We had dunnocks building a nest too, but the winter must have discouraged them.

Oh what a pity Eleanor, hopefully they'll try again. Dunnocks' eggs are the most aMAZing blue.

Jus remembered we found a little blue egg shell! Looks like they might have nested after all! Thanks for that Lynda!

Awww that's so cute

Awww how lovely to see those little birds doing so well. I love watching Springwatch too but yes it changed once Simon king left, it seemed to lose some of it's dynamic although they have tried with. Will still keep looking forward to seeing each year.

Lynda wrote:

Andy - you need to get your birdbox down and clean out the remains of last year's nest - most garden birds just won't nest on top of (or even near) last year's nests.

Ah that makes sense, I didnt realise that .... cheers Lynda

Bird-brain at your assistance! Glad to be of help.

Oh and Eleanor, if the bit of egg-shell you found was the most gorgeous sky-blue (without flecks or dots) then it may well have been a Dunnock's. Just remember that parent birds will take the shells and chuck them some distance away from the nest, to confuse predators (like magpies and squirells) so don't expect to find the nest anywhere near where you found the shell.

Good luck with your baby birds!

Lynda wrote:Bird-brain at your assistance! Glad to be of help.

Oh and Eleanor, if the bit of egg-shell you found was the most gorgeous sky-blue (without flecks or dots) then it may well have been a Dunnock's. Just remember that parent birds will take the shells and chuck them some distance away from the nest, to confuse predators (like magpies and squirells) so don't expect to find the nest anywhere near where you found the shell.

Good luck with your baby birds!

I checked the shell yesterday and it is a dunnock. Opposite end of the garden from the nest!

One of the blackbirds fledged earlier. Big enough to be a difficult catch for our magpie couple and sheltered from cats, foxes, etc., so they should be alright for now!