Spring is here.

[catgate]

A week ago the curlew was back, calling and circling above the field across the road, and the day before that there was a skylark singing way up above out of sight.

But the best bit was this evening just on dusk. In the Cox's apple tree just outside the back door was a male blackbird. In a thorn tree in the hedge right at the back of the garden was another and yet a further one was in another apple tree round the other end of the bungalow. The sounds that they were producing was nothing short of magic.

Management and I opened the back door and stood within feet of one of them, listening and grinning at each other like a couple of kids. It was WONDERFUL. It was just as though they were doing it for our benefit. They were just like jazz performers each performing separate "riffs". First one would send out a phrase, then another would come out with one, followed by the other, AND NO ONE WAS CONDUCTING.

:clapping:

[Gandalph]

Are you sure Mahler wasn't stood just the other side of the fence? :D

[Irene]

But the best bit was this evening just on disk. In the Cox's apple tree just outside the back door was a male blackbird. In a thorn tree in the hedge right at the back of the garden was another and yet a further one was in another apple tree round the other end of the bungalow. The sounds that they were producing was nothing short of magic.

Management and I opened the back door and stood within feet of one of them, listening and grinning at each other like a couple of kids. It was WONDERFUL. It was just as though they were doing it for our benefit. They were just like jazz performers each performing separate "riffs". First one would send out a phrase, then another would come out with one, followed by the other

Pure, unadulterated bliss.

There is nothing on this earth like it. :D

[-pops-]

Just seen a pair of my garden blackbirds pulling worms, chopping them up and carrying the pieces off - a sure sign they have young - but isn't it too early in the year?

[andsome]

To my tastes the blackbird is the finest of all song birds. I have heard that each one is subtly different, although how true this is I have no way of knowing. We are lucky in having several resident blackbird families nearby. :D

[Watchful]

All the birds around here are doing their courtship displays just now. They'll be building nests next

I love birdsong, especially the Blackbird's. Bliss

[catgate]

But the best bit was this evening just on disk.

It had nothing to do with disk...it was dusk

Re the blackbird song. There is another one that I like that in some ways is even better quality, though less in quantity., and that is the thrush.

We have a couple of pairs in the neighbourhood. Just up a little lane that runs up sat our back garden is a small copse. It is the favourite place for one of the males during the summer evenings. It is wonderful just to walk up and lean on a fence listening...it makes the hairs on the back of ones neck stand on end.

[Watchful]

Another one often overlooked is the little wren whose song belies his small size :)

[andsome]

I agree that many birds have lovely songs, but still for me the blackbird is the best. Not only is it so sweet, it is strong and powerful, and infinitely varied. :D