The first baby starling made it bang on time today. For the last 24 years our first one has always arrived on the 13th May (apart from last year when it was one day early) which is my central sons birthday. Half five this morning I could hear the particular insistent noise young starlings make and there it was. Mum (or dad) was busily trying to feed it while getting it to stay still and then it was time to make it fly a little bit further each time. I find it lovely to watch. First from the bird table to the apple tree - it just made it - then just as it was getting settled on the branch mum set off for the roof of the garage. You could see this little bird thinking "What? Again?" but after two attempts it made it. Just getting settled again when mum took off for the apple tree again. Little bird looked distinctly unimpressed and just stayed put. Mum popped down to the bird table, filled her beak and went back to the top of the tree and called him. You could see him looking very tempted and in the end he gave in and took off in that sort of hurtling flight - no direction really - almost like he aimed himself, shut his eyes and took off! He got his food and they both settled down for a while. So at the moment there are upwards of 25 adult starlings bustling around the garden and one baby. I hope to see many more before the end of the week.
Taz x