Oh dear...

[ina]

Madam Blackbird decided that an old bit of shelving in a corner of my garden was the perfect place for sitting on a nest. Only about half a meter above ground - open on two sides - in a garden that's used as passage between other gardens by quite a few cats.

Now I am having to think up a way of making it a little more secure for her. Quite apart from the fact that I can't do anything in that part of the garden - which the council won't like at all, because it's "messy".

Anyway, my own cat has disappeared, and I am getting rather worried. My laptop keeps overheating, so I have to get something done about that, too - not a good start to the week! What else can go wrong?

[Flo]

Madam Blackbird does nest in the oddest of places. Have many stories of her causing havoc. I'm beginning to think that blackbirds are a bit like sheep - not very sensible.

I'd say that your week is brewing to be "interesting" in many ways. Good luck with the cat and may the computer not be too expensive.

[Odsox]

It's a pity you live so far away.
Laptops collect dust which clogs the heat exchanger fins but it's fairly easy job to take the back off and give it several blast of compressed air.
But probably not for the faint hearted.

[Green Aura]

What else can go wrong?

Hopefully nothing, ina. I hope your cat returns safe and sound.

[ina]

Update!

Madam is still alive and well, and now has the only nesting place with room service. Food seems to be appreciated...
Laptop is back at home, and also alive and well. Clogged up with dust, and this particular type seems to be prone to overheating anyway.
And I found the cat after three days in a shed in the neighbourhood. She's so bloody timid, I bet she kept quiet when it wasn't me she heard walking past. Then she got all upset because she couldn't understand why I wouldn't take her preferred shortcut home across the fence - so she followed me all around the block (5 minutes walk), complaining bitterly. Probably afraid I was about to leave her again.

So not too bad a week after all. Mind you, it isn't over yet...
And on Monday I'll be back at work, after having been off sick since October. Actually not looking forward to it - there's just too much to do in the garden at the moment! Still not fit enough for a full day's work, so hopefully they'll phase me in gradually.

[Green Aura]

[ina]

The babies have hatched! If I was any better with my camera, I'd get some photos...

[Green Aura]

Lovely. I'm not sure whether they're tame or just bold but I'm always amazed at how close they like to live to us. All the other birds that visit our winter food palace flit as soon as we approach the back door - still on the inside! The blackbirds don't, they stay put and even come quite near if we're digging. A bit like robins but not quite so forward.

[Weedo]

I am glad you are happy about your local birds as I am about ours. With the ongoing drought we are seeing many "new" species coming into the house yard for water. Sorry, blackbirds are feral pests competing with our native birds for food and space around here.

[ina]

Sorry, blackbirds are feral pests competing with our native birds for food and space around here.

Like parakeets here. I actually thought they hadn't got as far as Scotland yet - and just now I saw this on BBC:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotla ... asgow-park

It's not just humans traveling all over the world and settling!