How some unexpected visitors helped this retired couple through lockdown

Retired couple Bob and Everilde Flower had four visitors to help them through the final weeks of their Covid lockdown.

But the pensioners weren't breaking any rules.

Because the guests were blackbird chicks who hatched in a nest at the top of Bob's old BT ladder!

The 87-year-old former BT engineer noticed blackbirds flying to and from the ladder at the side of his house in Radcliffe-on-Trent, around a month ago.

When he went to investigate, he found a Blackbird mum sitting on four eggs. She had built her nest across rungs of the three-unit, extender-ladder that he used to climb telegraph poles, during his 45-year career.

The nest was only about five feet off the ground, so he and his wife Everilde (aged 86) were able to watch every day during the next four weeks, as the eggs hatched and the four chicks successfully fledged.

"It was amazing," said Bob, who celebrated his 87th birthday during lockdown, in May.

"It was also a great change from jigsaws and TV!

"We get a fair number of birds in our garden and I always put out food for them, but I don't think we've ever had a nest before.

"The nest was at a nice height and we could see everything. It was lovely to watch all the eggs hatch and the chicks successfully fledge.

"We're lucky that we have a nice garden and we've been very well looked after by family and neighbours, throughout the lockdown.

"But we haven't left the house since March 8. So the Blackbird chicks really helped keep us active."

Bob took photographs of the chicks, some of which we've published here.

The final blackbird flew the nest as lockdown was ending, last week.

Days later, Bob and Everilde - who have been married for 65 years - hosted more visitors, when their two children and three grandchildren called in for a socially-distanced, one-year birthday celebration with their first great grandson Rory.

* Bob's Blackbird chicks are a great addition to the selection of photographs we've been publishing every day during June, to celebrate Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust's 30 Days Wild nature campaign.