The Cuckoo has been singing its heart out all week over Rushmere Park. I tried to find him in the wood on a dog walk. I know I came close at times because his song became so incredibly loud. Louder than I’ve ever heard a Cuckoo sing before. Every time I reached the part where I believed him to be singing from, the sound stopped and then began again somewhere else. While on my hunt I came across a Squirrel taking it easy and enjoying the sun.

Grey Squirrel relaxing (Photo©Julie Cuthbert)

 Our nesting Blackbirds are still sitting on eggs. Watching their diligent devotion is fascinating and a delight. When we relax in the garden, after a while, the male makes his presence known and lands in front of us to give us his stern message, “Can you go now, my wife needs to feed and drink.” We make our way inside and watch them through the open French doors. 

Watchful Blackbird (Photo©Julie Cuthbert)

 He calls to let her know it’s safe now and she arrives on the lawn immediately. She then scans around and feeds. She is scruffy. Her feathers are all out of place from sitting still on the nest. She feeds on tiny fragments of fatball which have fallen down from the feeder. It is so hot and dry this spring that it would be impossible for her to extract any worms from the baked lawn. He watches over her, occasionally taking a few mouthfuls too. After a short while he becomes impatient and goes over to the pond and starts to mime to her to take a bath. She comes over and drinks from the waterfall, then pops herself into the bathing area and, after checking around again, she really flaps about and relishes the moment. Droplets of water spray everywhere and catch the sunlight like diamonds. We can hear the splashes of her wings beating the water surface. She then hops out and preens. The male is watching over her all the time. It is plain to see how much better she feels after having fed and bathed, then off she goes back to her duty on the nest, brooding. 

Julie Cuthbert, May 2025