Blackbird

Two weeks ago I blipped the Boss, the large hen blackbird that is dominant in our garden. All the males, including this one defer to her.

How often do we stop to admire the beauty of the blackbird? They are one of our commonest birds with an estimated 6 million pairs, and their numbers in winter increase with migrants from the Continent. In winter the orange/yellow beak seems so bright and vibrant in low murky light.

Unlike the robins, our blackbirds haven't started singing yet. The mellow flutey song is my favourite of all the garden birds. A life-affirming song if there ever was one.

Another grey Cumbrian winter's day with drizzle all morning. Like yesterday's dunnock, this was taken on a very high ISO, and if the graininess wasn't evident then, it surely is now.

I had a quick walk in the afternoon, then we popped to Leighton Moss to buy yet another 12.5 kg bag of bird food. When we were there I realised my year list was missing one of commoner ducks, pochard, so we had a quick visit to Lillian's Hide to add this. Total for 2011: 79.

ps The foul weather this weekend caused us to postpone the planned camping trip to the Cairngorms until February.