Paul's Back Garden Safari

Over the past week or so we've noticed increased activity in the hedge right by the patio doors. We've seen blackbirds going into the hedge and making the branches bounce around. Not wanting to disturb any possible nest we've not investigated too closely. After the failed song thrush nest earlier in spring, and the disappointment of seeing the cold eggs left in the nest, we kept away. However, this evening the boss saw the male and female leave the hedge very close to the doors, and then noticed the nest. This evening there are three eggs, I'm not sure if more will be laid. Though most of the reference guides say the clutch can be between 3 and 5. As it's now mid to late June I assume this would be the last nest of the season, though blackbirds can have up to 4 broods a season. Perhaps the mild spring and great summer so far have made it possible. The position of the nest is right at the edge of the hedge where is almost comes to rest against the wall. In fact so cl...

Over the winter I noticed that a song thrush was visiting the garden on a regular basis. We had always had one visit occasionally, but each week recently I recorded it's presence as part of the BTO Garden Bird census. Then I started seeing two in the back garden at the same time. This also coincided by a song thrush singing it repetitive song early in the morning somewhere in or near the back garden. Euonymous varigata. The nest is towards the top. Last week I disturbed a bird from a thick Euonymous bush growing near the fence. It flew away too fast too see what it was. Over the next week or so I kept my eye open and saw a thrush feeding in the garden regularly, and occasionally making a visit the bush. A close up view of the nest through the leaves Last week I had was able to confirm that it was nesting towards the top of the bush. However, over the past 4 days I've not seen it making any visits to the nest. A view of t...