"If I were a Blackbird"

                               "I knows where there's a Blackbird nest,
                                                 I know where she be:

      She be in yon Wurzel bush

         And I be after she."

   

With my camera of course.

A Blackbird has built a nest right alongside my bay-window, in a climbing rose. I thought if I could secretly get my camera up to the glass without being seen, I could get a close-up of the young.

So I drew the curtains and left a small gap for the camera lens. I put a safety-pin above and below to keep the curtains together. The camera was on a tripod so all I had to do was wait.

I had several goes but the following was the best of the bunch. I didn't use flash in case I scared her off, so I'm afraid it is a bit dim, but it was taken through double-glazing after all.

The male Blackbird was in the meantime round the back by the conservatory.

Now, Wesley is a great believer in eating 'alfresco', so I put his plate out on the patio.

Well, as he always likes to 'leave a bit for manners', this is a nice picking for a hungry father Blackbird. 

He would sit on the shed roof waiting for Wesley to finish and wander off.

Then when Wes had made himself 'comfy', only about four feet away, he would hop down and help himself.

I tried on several occasions to get a picture of them both together without disturbing either!!

This is not marvellous but it was the best I could get.  Wesley, by the way, is now thirteen and is more interested in food on a plate than having to chase it!!