Ilkley North West Trail #10: Worm-Gobbling Songster
This is the 10th of a 13-cache series which takes you on a 4.3km trail around some of the lovely countryside between Middleton and Austby immediately to the northwest of Ilkley above the north bank of the Wharfe. Allowing for an easy pace, stopping for caches | to admire the view | spot birds the trail should take you about 3 hours or so.
See GC8Q381 Ilkley NorthWest Trail #1: Intro & Start for background info on the trail and parking waypoints. See Gallery for a map of the trail showing parking spots and approximate cache locations.
The cache, a camo-taped screw-capped sample tube is hidden at the gate accessing this lovely path of broad-leaf woodland where this familiar garden bird was singing strongly from its perch high up on one of the nearby trees.
To Reach the Cache Location:
If doing the caches in series sequence: from #9 continue east along the lane to the entrance gate to Calvary. Almost opposite this is a gate leading into the woodland where the cache is hidden.
Alternative approach for mid-series caches: park at P2 and follow the caches in reverse sequence from #11.
These famous songsters and sun-worshipping earthworm feasters are regular visitors to British gardens.
The (Eurasian or common) blackbird (Turdus merula) is a species of true thrush which breeds in Europe, Asiatic Russia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to Australia and New Zealand. It has several subspecies across its large range and the one found in UK is the nominate race T M merula.. Depending on latitude, the it may be resident, partially migratory, or fully migratory.
Its name derives from two Latin words, turdus 'thrush' and merula 'blackbird', the latter giving rise to its French name merle and Scots name merl.
About 65 species of medium to large thrushes are in the genus Turdus, all with rounded heads, longish pointed wings, and usually melodious songs.
Some key facts
Home: it is a widespread common garden visitor and has adapted well to suburban areas – it’s often possible to get quite close. It is be found in woodland and grassland areas, but much less common on higher ground and in parts of Scotland.
Diet: earthworms are a favourite and they can hear movement just beneath the ground’s surface and hunt 
by cocking their head, listening carefully. They also eat other insects, caterpillars, fallen fruit and berries, foraging on the ground and in the undergrowth. A common sight and sound in the garden & elsewhere is that of them flipping through leaf debris searching for food beneath. The following poem has some more observations on its diet . . .
Family: breeding takes place from March - late July but can vary depending on the weather. The female builds the nest, usually close to the ground with adequate cover, such as a bush or a small tree. The nest is round and made with twigs, grass and other plant materials. They usually have 2-3 broods of an average 3-5 eggs.
The female incubates the eggs and the chicks hatch about 2 weeks later. They are fed earthworms or caterpillars – earthworms in gardens and caterpillars in woodland – and are ready to fledge after another 2 weeks. They are fully independent 3 weeks after fledging.
Average life expectancy is 3.4 years, but they can exceptionally live over 10 years, with the oldest living to 20 years 3 months!
Song: the male’s rich, languid song is a common sound, especially on warm summer evenings - listen here.
See here for a good collection of additional blackbird photos.
See short videos here (feeding chicks), here (singing close-up), here and (bathing).