Baby Blackbird

Today, a neighbour back home (Horsham) came round with a cat basket with a baby blackbird (Turdus merula) in it.  It was a fledgling that her cat had caught.  It could barely fly and needed to be out of reach of the cat.  I picked it up, being careful to keep its wings against its side and put it on the roof of our garage.  It hopped along the roof and its mother met it at the other end and it flew off.  

Lexie

Woodpecker update

This is the hole that the Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) has made.  I spent 3 hours today sitting and waiting.......

............and waiting..............

............and eventually saw...........

.........Nothing.   

Unfortunately due to last week being half term and the nest being located in a child's play area, it has been deserted.  I have identified it as a nest because, both male and female have been excavating the hole.  Whether the babies have hatched or not is unclear.  

Another note; I spotted a baby European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) on Campus.  And a funnier note;  I had my lunch stolen by a rather rude seagull.  

Lexie

Woodpeckers nest

I have discovered the location of a great spotted woodpeckers (Dendrocopos major) nest.  I saw it flying at Trebah and it seems that it has made a nest in one of the garden's statues.  I will be heading there next week with a hide and a 500mm lens to see if I can catch any photographs. 

Hopefully they will be on here soon.  Providing all goes well.

Lexie