Well=groomed blackbird

This cock blackbird is one of a pair nesting in the holly hedge at the bottom of the garden. While the hen bird incubates the eggs he doesn't have much to do, until there are nestlings to feed, so he spends his days sunbathing, preening and singing, with just an occasional bout of violence when he needs to see-off a rival blackbird.

Sunbathing involves sitting on this flat concrete block, fluffing up his feathers and rocking from side to side to soak up the warmth of the sun, ridding his feathers of parasites. Sometimes he goes into a trance-like state, with his beak open and eyes half-closed, panting in the heat.

Then a long session of feather preening and scratching with his claws.