The house that Blackbird built...

On our early morning walk today, Alfred and I came across this little blackbird sitting in the middle of the road with her beak absolutely stuffed with nesting material - mainly old leaves. We watched her from a distance for a while, then she flew off into what must be her nesting area up in an ivy plant. She was so weighed down she could hardly control her flight - it was very interesting to watch. She made it in though and then I got a bit closer and took this image of her. You can just about see the brown leaves and other nesting material still in her beak. I hope she is finished now, and happy with the result - she was working so hard! :-)