Looks aren't everything...

Which is just as well, cos this male blackbird is quite the scruffiest looking bird on the block and yet, he is collecting mealworms for chicks somewhere. We had assumed that he was too old and knackered this year to have a family but when I look back at my blips from last year he brought his chicks down on Wimbledon men's final day so he has a week and a bit to go.

Managed a swift bike ride this evening and was relieved to discover that this route, the first one we attempted, is much much easier now.