The weather has kept us at home.  Grey skies are one thing, but cold, damp, wind-driven rain is a force to be reckoned with.  And inspite of Drizabone, there still has to be enough light bring some decent exposure rates.
So. Home it is.

I was under the pergola, working with the Nikon 1 focusing variations, and noted our local female Blackbird going over the fence with a beakful of building material.  She stopped long enough on one trip that  I managed to get a reasonable shot of her at work.  “So,” thought I, “She must have a nest going in somewhere nextdoor.”

About an hour later, however I saw a Blackbird with head up and lots of wing flapping, and I reached for the camera, thinking it was probably a juvenile that was begging for food.

And a few seconds later, “Blackie”—sometimes I’m not to creative with names— flew up to the rooftop,  and after a few more wingflaps, it became obvious this was the female, and her nesting aspirations were in full force.

Clever bird that he is, he worked it out. Mind he probably has both experience and opportunity on his side.

Perhaps I should rate the site with an “R” rating?

Here tis.

+================+ Gallery +============+

No time to waste. The bigger the load, the bigger the nest.

Tapdancing and singing

At first I thought the wingflaps were for a feeding call.

She was quite insistant

And another little dance insused.

But, it was time to get down to the business of making the next generation possible.

Somehow she backed up against the roof ridge for support. I often wonder where the tails disappear to.