Have you seen many blackbirds recently?

[Africa]

I have noticed I am seeing far less blackbirds than usual this year. The rowan berries are rotting in the tree and even the cotoneaster is not being visited as frequently as usual. I thought it must be the warm weather but I haven't seen them feeding on lawns either. I have noticed a few in the last few weeks sub-singing in the bushes and that is pretty much it. Are your blackbirds about as usual?

[tigertom]

Plenty about near to me mainly feeding on hawthorn berrys blackbirds inmost bushes in local park
MIKE

[Phoebe]

I watched a blackbird's nest in my hedge this year for the first time. Five chicks were raised, successfully I think, I say that because one day three fully fledged were gone from the nest and 2 days later the other two were seen being fed on the lawn by the male. The female was rarely seen after the first three disappeared. Since then they do seem to have dispersed and I only see one or two occasionally in the garden or in my trees. I hear their alarm call every night when I walk up the garden to put the hens to bed. They are in my neighbours small wood next door.

[King Edward]

Seem to be a fair number here. Lots of Redwings as well, feeding on Hawthorn berries, plus Mistle Thrushes and Fieldfares.

[KentYeti]

My garden pair were away for the summer, but are now back.

Cheers,

Bryan

[Littlesparrow]

We have one male visiting in the morning, but generally I think the numbers are down on last year, here anyway.

[exo]

This time of year a birdbath really seems to attract blackbirds,
even if it's freeeezing cold, they still jump in & splash about.
A flowing birdbath / drinking dish really seems to help.

Plenty of autumn food like berries still about, this year at least,
so they're not desperate to pick scraps from the feeders yet
- but soon they'll be co-habiting with the squirrels & other 'friends'...





and a vid just for fun
http://www.Exogenesis.co.uk/SparrowFriends.wmv

[Africa]

wow Exo! Are these photos recent? you've got snow already?! Plenty of birds indeed...

[exo]

Sorry, no snow here yet, those were last year's photos mid-December '10.

But it showed how everyone congregates around the food & water sources,
including the ones that seem a bit no-show right now