What better accolade is there for a gardener than the reward of having wildlife use the habitat created for them?
Birds bring gardens alive, and in so many ways they make gardening worthwhile. It's lovely having them as companions, delving into newly dug soil for worms and pests, but better still when they take up residence and make a nest.
What better accolade is there for a gardener than the reward of having wildlife use the habitat created for them? Two pairs of blackbirds regularly dart about my lawn feeding, chasing and protecting their territory. I'm not sure where their boundaries lie or whether they're happy sharing the garden. One pair has nested near the house in a thicket of boundary shrubs, while the other built a nest close to my greenhouse. I noticed them first when they gave themselves away darting in and out of a large laurel. Closer inspection revealed a nest (pictured, above) with a fluffy pile of chicks - four I think - a wonderful bonus for any gardener.
As always, I tried to keep away from the nest as much as possible so the parents could feed their chicks un-hindered. They must know me well, as they're often out with me while I'm gardening, but birds must find it hard knowing who is friend or foe in a world full of dangers.
A couple of days after taking this picture I took another quick peep into the laurel but found the nest empty. Had the chicks flown the nest, or had a predator struck?
Last week, while inspecting my standard roses for signs of pests I was amazed to come face-to-face with another nest perched in the thorny head of the bush. It contained three small speckled blue eggs. I quickly moved away, and from a distance I watched a song thrush return to incubate her clutch.
All birds are wonderful, but the song thrush is my absolute favourite garden bird. It's a true beauty, not as bold as many others, but always a delight to see. Telltale empty snail shells indicate its presence, highlighting its welcome role in natural pest control. I wish these new offspring a long and rewarding life foraging for pests in my garden.
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