Blackbird Updates
Welcome to our garden, where a quiet and remarkable story is unfolding.
Tucked safely among the branches, a pair of blackbirds — Eurasian Blackbird — have chosen this space to build their nest. What might seem like an ordinary corner of the garden has become the centre of new life, patience, and daily devotion.
28th April
📅 April 28th – Nest Building Begins
The first signs of new life in the garden began to take shape as a female blackbird — a Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) — started building her nest.
Throughout the day, she made repeated visits, carefully selecting and carrying materials such as dry twigs, grass, moss, and small roots. With quiet determination, she shaped the structure piece by piece, pressing and turning her body to form a secure, cup-like nest hidden among the branches.
30th April
📅 April 30th – Nest Activity Report
Today brought an exciting update at the nest of the Eurasian Blackbird.
Early this morning, one egg was visible in the nest. Later in the day, a second egg was laid — a clear sign that the clutch is beginning to build.
The female was observed returning regularly, spending longer periods settled on the nest, likely beginning early incubation behaviour. She made a few short departures to feed, each time returning cautiously before resettling.
A calm and positive day overall, with the nest now holding two eggs and the next stage well underway. 🐦🥚
1st May
📅 May 1st – Nest Activity Report
On a beautiful, warm and sunny day, the nest of the Eurasian Blackbird showed another lovely step forward.
Early this morning, the clutch increased from two eggs to three, marking steady progress in the nesting cycle.
The female spent much of the day settled on the nest, with only brief, cautious departures before returning to continue incubation. The calm weather seemed to support a peaceful and undisturbed day overall.
The nest now holds three eggs — a promising and reassuring stage in the journey. 🐦🥚
2nd May
📅 May 2nd – Nest Activity Report
A lovely milestone today at the nest of the Eurasian Blackbird.
The clutch has now reached four eggs, and the mother bird is consistently incubating them. She remained settled for long periods, only leaving briefly before returning to resume keeping the eggs warm.
Activity was calm and steady throughout the day, with the focus now clearly on incubation as the next stage begins. 🐦🥚
3rd May
📅 May 3rd – Nest Activity Report
A special Sunday update from the blackbird nest — a fifth egg has arrived!
The clutch is now complete, and mum is settling in for full incubation. You may see her sitting for long, peaceful stretches, carefully keeping the eggs warm, with only occasional short breaks before she returns to the nest.
After a lovely name raffle, our blackbird now has a name — Canny (short for Acanthyllis).
Canny is currently incubating her clutch of five eggs, spending most of her time settled on the nest, carefully keeping them warm as we move closer to hatching.
📅 May 4th – Nest Activity Report
A calm and steady day at the nest today.
There are no new eggs, and the clutch remains the same. Canny, our blackbird mum, is continuing to incubate, spending most of her time settled on the nest.
She made a few short trips out for food, each time returning quietly and resuming her position to keep the eggs warm.
4th May
5th May
📅 May 5th – Nest Activity Report
All is well at the nest today.
Canny, our blackbird mum — a Eurasian Blackbird — continues to incubate her eggs, remaining settled for most of the day. She is carefully keeping them warm, with only short breaks to leave the nest for food before returning promptly.
Everything appears calm, steady, and on track, with no changes to the clutch. A peaceful day, just as it should be at this stage of the journey. 🌿🥚
📅 May 6th – Nest Activity Report
All is good at the nest today.
Canny, our Eurasian Blackbird mum, continues to incubate her eggs calmly and consistently. She spent most of the day settled on the nest, leaving only briefly for food before returning to continue keeping the eggs warm.
A peaceful and steady day, with everything progressing well. 🌿🥚
6th May
7th May
📅 May 7th – Nest Activity Report
Another calm day at the nest for Canny, our Eurasian Blackbird mum.
She continues to incubate her eggs steadily, remaining settled for long periods and only leaving briefly to feed before returning to the nest.
Everything remains peaceful and on track as the incubation period continues. 🌿🥚
8th May
📅 May 8th – Nest Activity Report
We’re now a week into incubation, and all continues to go to plan at the nest.
Canny, our Eurasian Blackbird mum, remains dedicated and calm, spending most of her time carefully incubating the eggs and only leaving briefly for food before returning.
The nest has stayed peaceful and undisturbed, with everything progressing exactly as hoped during this important stage of the journey. 🌿🥚
9th May
📅 May 9th – Nest Activity Report
It’s a cold, wet, and grey Saturday at the Blackbird Nest today, with steady rain falling throughout the day. Canny and the eggs are all doing well, staying safe and cosy despite the gloomy weather, while the garden birds shelter between the showers. A peaceful and quiet day here at the Nest. Welcome to the Bear and the Garden channel 🐻
📅 May 10th – Nest Activity Report
It’s been a beautiful sunny Sunday at the nest, and all continues to be well with Canny and her eggs.
Canny, our Eurasian Blackbird mum, spent the day calmly incubating, leaving only occasionally for short feeding breaks before returning to settle back onto the nest.
Meanwhile, it was a relaxing day in the garden, watching Bear busy at work nearby while Canny quietly continued her important task. A peaceful and gentle Sunday all around. 🌿🥚🐻
10th May
11th May
12th May
Sadly, in the early hours around dawn, the Blackbird nest was raided by Magpies and we lost all of the eggs.
While this is heartbreaking to witness, nest predation is unfortunately a very common part of life for wild birds, especially for ground and garden nesting species like the Eurasian Blackbird. In fact, the same thing happened to Canny’s first nest last year.
The good news is that Canny herself is alive and well, and she has still been seen around the garden today. Although the nest has been lost, blackbirds are resilient birds and will often attempt to nest again during the breeding season.
Thank you to everyone who followed and supported this journey with such kindness and care. Nature can be both beautiful and difficult, and sharing these moments means sharing the hard ones too. 🌿🐦
🐦 Blackbirds & Nesting – Quick Facts
Meet the blackbird
The Eurasian Blackbird is one of the UK’s most familiar and well-loved garden birds. Males are glossy black with a bright orange beak and eye-ring, while females are warm brown with subtle speckling. They are especially known for their rich, melodic song, often heard early in the morning and at dusk.
🪺 Nest building
Blackbirds usually build their nests low down in shrubs, hedges, ivy, or dense plants. The female gathers materials such as twigs, grass, moss, and roots, then lines the inside with mud to create a strong, cup-shaped structure. She shapes the nest by pressing it with her body. Building typically takes around 3 to 7 days.
🥚 Eggs & incubation
Blackbird eggs are a distinctive blue-green colour with reddish-brown speckles. A typical clutch contains 3 to 5 eggs. The female incubates them for about 12 to 14 days, rarely leaving except to feed. During this time, the male may stay nearby, guarding territory and sometimes bringing food.
🐣 Chicks & early life
When the chicks hatch, they are blind and featherless and depend entirely on their parents. Both adults feed them a diet of worms, insects, and soft fruits. The chicks grow quickly and usually leave the nest after 12 to 15 days. Even after fledging, they remain close by and continue to be fed for a short period.
🌿 Nesting habits & behaviour
Blackbirds often raise 2 to 3 broods in a single breeding season. They are adaptable birds and frequently nest close to human activity. Parents are attentive and cautious, carefully balancing feeding and protecting their young. Not every nest is successful, as weather, predators, and disturbance can all affect the outcome.
💚 Why it matters
Observing a blackbird nest offers a window into the everyday rhythms of wildlife. From the first twig placed to the moment young birds leave the nest, it’s a quiet but remarkable process that reflects the resilience and beauty of nature right in the garden.