The first Blackbird fledglings in the garden

It's too wet to undertake anything outdoors today, the 23rd April, St Georges Day. I am pretty sure that had the Dippers not been washed out of their nest last week, as they were, they would certainly have perished over the last 24 hours. The rain has been never ending today and it was a nice surprise to see in the garden, a newly fledged baby Blackbird - Turdus merula. This species breeds in or around my garden every year with their main threat being the local cats and also Magpies - Pica pica. To actually see a healthy youngster, strong enough to avoid at least the cats, and out of the nest where they are not vulnerable to the magpie is very pleasing. Almost every year I find the remains of them on my lawn where cats have killed them, so fingers crossed. It chose anasty day to leave the nest in the wet  but seems healthy enough.