early nesters ?

[ashgale]

on boxing day we were sat watching the antics of our troop of blackbirds (usually 8/10 birds) chasing each other away from the food sources in the garden,
when we noticed a pair of them engaged in what looked liked pre mating behaviour, which we thought was a tad early yet, especially given the recent weather

but then today what looked like the same female was gathering dead grass and dissapearing into the next garden,

we usually have a pair of blackbirds nesting in the garden at some point in the year, but never this early,

any one else noticed anything similar yet ?

ashgale.

[Littlesparrow]

Not here in frozen Cheshire, roughly where are you in Britain

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by ashgale

......any one else noticed anything similar yet ?
ashgale.

Haven't seen any signs of actual nesting yet but in the last few days we've had a male pheasant displaying to several females in the garden; yesterday there was a pair of Wood Pigeons copulating and today we've had a pair of Green Woodpeckers showing display behaviour.

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)

[ashgale]

Originally Posted by Littlesparrow

Not here in frozen Cheshire, roughly where are you in Britain

in (a not much warmer) east midlands, on the edge of sherwood forest,

ashgale

[ashgale]

Originally Posted by JeffH

Haven't seen any signs of actual nesting yet but in the last few days we've had a male pheasant displaying to several females in the garden; yesterday there was a pair of Wood Pigeons copulating and today we've had a pair of Green Woodpeckers showing display behaviour.

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)

mmm, seems that the birds know something about our weather that the forecasters dont

[thunder]

Originally Posted by ashgale

mmm, seems that the birds know something about our weather that the forecasters dont

Nope.They are just finding ways to keep warm!

henrya

[Naturenutz]

I saw a sparrow taking straw and feathers under the roof tiles yesterday.I assumed they are feathering their roost but maybe not .

[burhinus]

Collared Doves and Woodpigeons are singing in Suffolk.

Several years ago a Blackbird built a nest and laid eggs in the Christmas Tree in Norwich city centre. They had to delay removing it until the birds hatched and fledged!

burhinus

[aeshna5]

Egyptian Geese + Ring-necked Parakeets are prospecting around London + I've seen Wood Pigeons + Collared Doves displaying and Magpies collecting twigs.

[Wild-Woman]

The corvids are usually the first off the mark for nesting. The wood pigeons and doves are practising lots on the fence!!!!