The berry thief

For a short time at the end of the summer the berberis berries make a wonderful display of bright orange against the dark green foliage.  I'm often surprised that they by the end of September they are still sitting there, unmolested and uneaten by the local birdlife.  Particularly, given that a pair of hungry pigeons have been nesting in the tree above them.  Perhaps the berries need a little more autumn sunshine to ripen properly, or perhaps the colder weather makes them more edible? 

Whatever the answer, by mid October the berries have started disappearing rapidly, and all of a sudden.  It was good to see this blackbird getting plenty of them this morning, as Cathy and I would much rather that he had them than the fat pigeons!