The return of Kevin

In 2007 we had black redstarts nesting and they produced Kevin the teenager, above.  I've seen them in the garden several years since but this year they seemed to have built a nest in the same place as before, in a small open porch which had an old ventilation opening.

Given that it's 7 years ago and black restarts appear to have a lifespan of up to 8 years, Kevin may well be one of the pair or even one of them could be his offspring.  I have been doing little over the last few days other than trying to hide from view with a camera.

The nest is up there but I can't quite reach, but it does seem a little rudimentary and insubstantial.  I tried holding the camera way above my head and I still can't reach.  I don't want to disturb them with any ladder climbing at this stage.

I thought they might be very late hatching, early July seems late, but looking at the dates I took photos before, it's more or less the same.


I had a better view in 2007 but I forget how I did it.

The male black redstart.  Note the stylish plastic bird feeder hanging from the railings.

The female black restart, looking like a long-legged robin, just leaving the nest to go off in search of food .

And she returned with a good one.  The male did find a dragonfly but of course by the time the camera was focused, he was gone. The one that got away.

Apart from these pictures strictly for the birds, I spent the day counting raindrops.

Empty nest syndrome

All gone.

Kevin

We have an adolescent black redstart.



Today was the first time we noticed one of the young out of the nest.

Growing up

The chicks are growing steadily

and need a constant supply of food from the parents. They go back and forth all day long with and endless stream of insects and some berries.

My babies

I spotted the nest not the most tidy (in fact it resembles the Hanging Gardens of Babylon), in a ventilation duct when I was investigating why a bird was being so noisy.

You can just about spot two mouths ready to accept any offerings. There may be others but I don't want to disturb anyone.

This is the mother, rather shy.

And this is the father, rather grumpy. He keeps saying tck, tck, tck.

I believe they are black redstarts but I am happy to be corrected if anyone knows better. Unfortunately they refused to pose for good portraits.

We won't be able to leave the nest where it is, but of course we'll wait until the babies have flown before we do anything.