I can well understand why small beings like blackbirds need to keep stoking up with fresh food supplies. Not only are there chicks to feed, but our spring days persist on the frosted side of chilly. He who is currently casting his own coping stones for the terrace wall tells me that the high pressure over the Atlantic and low pressure to the north and east is causing Arctic air to be sucked down upon us, thus creating the UK’s coldest May in five years.
And the upshot: the winds that the weather people have been telling us are ‘fresh’ have been, and continue to be bone piercingly frigid. Nor does it help that our street is aligned due north, thus greatly facilitating the funnelling of icy blasts to our doorstep.
In consequence we’re still in winter woollies. Also, we’ve continued to keep the hedge bird feeder well stocked with fat balls, this on the grounds that the sparrows et al still need energy for gathering food for their young. They’ve certainly been getting through them.
Out in the garden the blackbirds have other strategies. This male blackbird starts chivvying me the moment he spots me. If I don’t respond at once, he moves in very close, finding a perch whence he can fix me with those beady eyes. And if this still doesn’t receive the desired response, he starts shouting.
And I must say, I do feel a touch affronted – to let myself be bullied by a small bird.
But needs must. The other day when I started earthing up the potatoes, both mister and missus swooped in, combing through the disturbed soil, chuntering in tones of unalloyed blackbird ecstasy. I have yet to spot exactly how they manage to hoover up quite so many small worms in one beak full. It all happens so fast.
[Spoiler alert: not for the squeamish.]
*
This morning I spotted the male in the apple tree, not far from my left ear. As ever he gave me the eye. The rain had moved in and I was late on parade. But today it seemed he’d managed to gather his worms without my intervention. More surprising though, he also managed to give me song without opening his beak. No worm was lost.
Songs for worms, I thought. Fair exchange.
*
Copyright 2026 Tish Farrell
Nature is amazing Tish!
It is, Anne!
Lovely post Tish. Blackbird company in the garden is a nice distraction from the chore of weeding. I used to have a Robin getting under my feet as well but I guess the one in garden is a different fellow.
The wind is cold here too but in sheltered sunny spots it’s really pleasant.
By the way I trashed my last post and re-did it. I noticed your comment but cannot reply but thanks for looking.
Always happy to pop into your place, Brian.
A wonderful story Memsahib. Trust the English for ‘animal’ stories. I thought of Darzee the tailor bird.
Winter woolies now? If your street is aligned north, is your garden facing south? (I’ve always had trouble with north and south…)
June is just around the corner…
Yes, roll on June, Brieuc. Our house faces east, but the front garden is open to the north and south. The back is more sheltered, and gets lots of sun, when it deigns to appear 🙂
Well, at least you have different orientations and can run around to follow the Sun on its appearances. Happy weekend, Tish.
Love that notion of running round the garden to catch the sun . Happy weekend to you too, Brieuc.
You could have garden chairs all around the garden to read a nice book.
Nice! 🙂
Thank you!
I do enjoy a blackbird in the garden, they have the most delightful song. Alex used to have a breeding pair in his garden. Sadly I haven’t had one here recently, but I dare not put fat balls out because they always attract the rats.
No, you certainly don’t need rats!
I felt a shiver as I read this. It is cold on the mountain again with wind.
It can be wearing, can’t it – too much cold wind.
Good on your feisty blackbirds! And lucky them for enjoying worms. Insect-feeding birds are having a bad time in this cold. I help with checking bird-boxes at Fountains (I’m a newbie at this) and too many hatchlings are dead, presumed starved this year.
Yes, I’ve certainly noticed the lack of insects, and especially so when we’ve had so much pollen production going on in our various fruit trees. Worrying.
Indeed. I’m hoping for an uptick soon.
Yes, fingers crossed. I did see one bumble bee in the front garden earlier, but few signs of other bugs, apart from some aphids the ants had totally corralled in the leaf tips of one of my blackcurrant bushes.
Ants are always pretty doughty!
Good images of worms in beak, Tish!
Happy to please, Sue 🙂 🙂
Great photos – and I do love to hear a blackbird sing! But you’re so right about the cold weather 🥶
Thanks. Sarah. I’m getting a bit fed up now. The wind seemed even more piercing today. But then I looked out of my upstairs window, and there was the blackbird perched in full view on the end of the gutter. One could start feeling a tad hunted 😉
I’m in Liverpool for a few days and the wind is very sharp here
Ooh, I can imagine.
Such a cute blackbird! That sure is a cold blast but hopefully warmer days to come. 🌞
I’m hoping so, Flavia. No sign of it yet.