Go away you silly cat!

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For the past few years, there have been blackbirds nesting in some of the trees growing around the house and neighboring houses too. They can be heard singing very early in the morning and constantly flying around looking for food. It is a pure pleasure to have them so close, if you ask me.

But they have to be very careful not to show where the chicks are. The cats are just waiting to get their paws on them....


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I took the camera to the garden, hoping to catch some smaller birds - sparrows, tits and such. But instead, I saw this lovely blackbird female sitting on the bush quite close to me and not very high from the ground too.

She was watching me, and I was watching her. She seemed calm (the cats were still not around), but very cautious.
I took a few photos and tried to move to a different spot, but she flew away to another bush.


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Now in a higher, safer position on a big pine tree. I guess she spotted the furry predator before I did.

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And here is the furry predator.


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Oh yes, he wanted to catch that birdie. Walking slowly towards the tree with his eyes on the target.


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You are not helping hooman!

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Few more jumps away from the nosy kitty cat. Checked when I was, where the cat was and off to another branch. Always in sight though.


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Kitty called backup :)
But that didn't help much either. They both just sat there under the trees looking up. A bit like me, but with a different purpose ;)

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Off to another branch, a little higher this time.

I know where the nest is, and she kept circling around, not daring to get too close to it. Just watching and making sure the chicks are safe.


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A little later, another one came in. I could hear him scream, but I could not see the bird. I am guessing it was a male. They both feed the chicks after they hatch.

But I had already turned off the camera and slowly started to move away. Let them be and do their thing.


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The cats did not get them, by the way :)


»«
Shot with Nikon D5500 + Tamron 70-300mm lens
All photos and text are my own.



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37 comments
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It seems to me that cats don't pose much of a risk and that they are a little bit after the impossible. How can you tell the sex of birds? I think by their beaks, but I never know.

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They can get to the nest if they find it and eat the chicks. Happened before.

How can you tell the sex of birds?

The blackbird female is more brown with daker beak, like on the photos. The male is all black with more yellow beak.

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You really got some great photos of the bird and cats. I know it is the nature of nature, but I don't love to see that part of the circle of life, so I like scaring predators off. :)

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They will find another prey as they have to eat too. As not nice it may be, that's how it all works.

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You got some really good shots there @ewkaw I was delighted with your experience when capturing this 😊🐱🐦

!discovery 40
!hiqvotes
!PIZZA

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Great report! But be careful with thrushes, of any kind. They can attack in packs, namely bombard with droppings!😄

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hahaha I did not know that! I guess I did not earn to be popped yet :D

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I don't know what is more beautiful in this publication, the birds, the cats or the funny story. I really appreciate reading posts like this that make me travel there and live the experience. I love cats more than birds, but these little black birds looked beautiful and relaxed. I hope it was a happy ending for them and that the kitties had a different feast after you left. Thanks, have a great start of the week EwkaW ✌️

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All animals are great, but if I had to pick one it would be a cat :D

Yes, the kitties got their supper soon after and birds we safe. I am glad you enjoyed the story.

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It is difficult to see this bird among the branches. But their singing is usually clearly audible.

The hunting cats looked very stern!

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Yea, it is so much easier to shoot them when the trees have no leaves yet. In summer its almost impossible.

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the cat is watching and waiting for an opportunity, a very precise and beautiful shot

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It's not a fair chase, cats can't fly! By the way, the shots are gorgeous, the bird's feathers look stunning. Especially the neckline.

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Haha nope... but they can easily get to the nest with the young ones that cant fly either ;)

Thank you!

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Ah yes, the eternal hobby of bird hunting! Around here, it's the American Robin that's in the danger zone... and they are actually related to European blackbirds.

Great photos... and story!

=^..^=⁶

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Thank you!
We had some smaller birds nesting too a while ago. But I think the cats found the nest and that was it.

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I just saw my cat giving me a lifeless bird on the terrace. Really, they are skilled hunters😆

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It looks like a movie. Haha 😅... Wow, I really like this bird watching thing. Those photos are beautiful, and I didn't even need to see the chicks. I imagined them the whole time.

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Haha I am sure they were told to shut up. I didn't hear them at all! :D

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One of the best enemies of the birds are cats, I also experienced here in our place when some birds building its nest in our Ornamental plants. Cats will be very aggressive everytime when they seen birds. On the other hand, you take a perfect angle of the pictures. I really appreciated it.

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Thank you!
Well... they see it as delicious food. That's how word works.

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Cats really have little chance in daylight with alert parent birds watching their every move!

Awesome captures on both, very good detail obtained from the dark bird as well.

!BEER

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Yea, they are often outsmart by the birds. Especially the lazy, well fed cats :)

Thank you!

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Hello ewkaw!

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