Crows or blackbirds: an omen or not?

I know black crows are supposed to herald bad news but I haven’t heard it about blackbirds.

Good job as there’s an abundance of them at the moment where I am. The brambles have been buzzing with nests and one of the mothers in particular is so excited by her task of rearing them, constantly off in search of food which never takes her very long at the moment.

She must have had about three broods this season and her young females are delightfully speckled. Here’s one of them learning to appreciate the pleasures of bathing in my little pond.