Monday 10th of February 2014 – A Juvenile Blackbird in our bathroom…
Our cat, Rusty, brought this lovely juvenile blackbird to our upstairs bathroom. At first I just heard singing and flapping, then it dawned on me she had brought something in. Rusty had taken the bird to the bathroom, so I called her out and shut the door, I could see the bird had already deposited his fear all over the bathroom floor/walls/window. I then climbed on a chair and looked through the window pane. What a beautiful bird I saw! And it didn’t look hurt at all, phew!
It took a few attempts to build up the courage to open the bathroom door, go in, take photos, open window, then get out again. Every time I tried it would start flying around, I had to back out again. I finally managed to get in. And eventually it left the room through the window I had opened. It was sort of terrifying at first, and then it was magical.
I had tried ringing my husband, as he’s been the one who dealt with these situations, rather successfully in the past, but he was in a meeting and didn’t answer. So I went on Facebook to try and get some help, but mostly to calm myself down and think…
Me – There it is… It’s a blackbird? It’s intact and flying around bathroom. Help!
Me – there’s a glass pane on top of the door, that’s how I photographed her. Still not built up to going in, tried about 10 times, it starts flying around when i do. ·10 February 2014 at 12:02·
Ruth – Looks like a blackbird. Don’t like dealing with live things that cats bring in – am really funny about frogs now.
Me – yeah, think it’s a blackbird. She’s not hurt, just can’t get in the room without her flapping about. 10 February 2014 at 12:04
Me – ok, let me break it down, might help: so I need to open the door quickly, sneak in, close door behind me, not panic, open the window. wait for it to leave. Will take a pillow case to shoo it away or maybe throw over it…
Me – I HAVE DONE IT! got some wicked photos too. Might not be a blackbird, it’s not pure brown, it has speckles!
Me – what a muppet, window is open but it’s just sitting in the bath
·10 February 2014 at 12:11·
Me – that’s not a blackbird is it?
Hat – Juvenile starling, I think.
Hat – If it’s in the bath, throw a towel over it and then you can release it outside 10 February 2014 at 12:15
Hat – http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/starling.htm 10 February 2014 at 12:15
Me – I opened the window, took photos, left the room, looks like it’s gone! 10 February 2014 at 12:15
Me – It did sing a lot, quite beautifully
10 February 2014 at 12:16
Me – yep, listening to the singing on that page, maybe it was a juvenile starling, thanks Hat xx Made me think of Drew for some reason.
Hat – They’re good mimics too.
Me – Just saw a blackbird in the garden, I’d forgotten they have yellow beaks
Hat – Juvenile and female blackbirds don’t.
Jeff – Well done.
Me – I tried calling you! But oh no, you had a meeting or some such…
10 February 2014 at 13:08
Ade – What is it with you and birds in the house?!
Hat – They’ve heard about the possibility of photo opportunities.
Me – This was the Third Bird if I’m not mistaken… Jeff rescued the other two. 10 February 2014 at 13:35
I still think it was a juvenile blackbird, mainly because of its beak? And also because there are lots and lots of blackbirds around here and no starlings!
Link to Facebook thread – it’s friends only, so it’s here for my reference.
Future bird encounters that I wrote about
. 19 July 2017 – Chimney Crow
. 02 June 2015 – Birdgate