This interesting chap was in the garden this morning.
What a very handsome chap - and with a lovely, ermine collar too - an aristocratic-looking Blackbird!.gif "Smile")
Yes, I thought he had a classy air.
And here he is, still around and from the look of it feeding a wife and family.
Well he's still around, was a mature male in winter 2012, so probably born in 2011. Will be interesting to see how long he can survive given the number of cats in the estate.
Very good photo - and observant and clever of you to record his visits.
It will be really interesting to see how long he stays around. How long do Blackbirds normally live?
Not sure Catherine, but just checked and the oldest ringed specimen was 20 years and 3 months. A large proportion of the mortality is probably due to predation and I guess that once they pass three years, they have achieved superior awareness. Unfortunately a really hard winter will knock down the averages.
And he's still around, must be five or more now, looking good.
That's amazing, Rolf! In that last pic it looks as if he is moulting those white feathers as they seem a bit rough!
The only species of which I can recognize a definite individual is the Sparrowhawk family! A young female is calling rather too often here - but fortunately misses a lot! I think she feels I am stuffing the little birds with seeds so she can have a nice meal!.gif "Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)")
rolf (24-02-2016)
Could be the light Catherine, as they look OK in real life.
And he's still about, January 2017.
He's more than 4 years old then! Probably about six or more, if you take into account his moulting stages!
It is lovely to be able to identify an individual bird like that!
rolf (20-01-2017)
Yes, that's what I thought, first photo is November 2012 and he's mature, so was at least spring of 2011 when he was fledged.Originally Posted by Catherine
He's more than 4 years old then! Probably about six or more, if you take into account his moulting stages!
It is lovely to be able to identify an individual bird like that!
Maybe he will get to 20 plus years then too!
Hope we're both still around to find out!
rolf (20-01-2017)
Let's hope so Catherine.
Had a bit of a scare yesterday, he was in the garden looking very sorry for himself, hardly moving and not responding to movement, happily he returned this morning with obvious feather damage, but much more spritely and feeding well, looks like he's survived a cat or raptor attack.
So definitely a minimum of six years old now.
He is looking quite good too!
I guess that white neck patch will give him away in undergrowth though, so a very dangerous beauty spot to have!
rolf (24-07-2017)
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