A BLACKBIRD building a nest provided the inspiration for a Bewdley historian's exhibition at Kidderminster Library.

Robert Barber, of Sabrina Drive, took photographs of the bird, which was nesting on top of a brick pillar under his carport four years ago.

Robert said his wife first noticed the blackbird building a nest so he took a couple of photographs and it went from there.

"I noticed the bird pulling branches of our tree in the front and I saw it scooping mud out of a puddle for the nest," he said.

He is displaying 27 photographs in the library's gallery which show the bird building its nest, then laying eggs, the hatching of eggs and finally the young birds leaving the nest.

Robert researched the life of a blackbird so he could write a detailed caption for each of the photographs.

During that summer, three different blackbirds nested under his carport and he said he was very lucky to have the opportunity to photograph them.

Robert, who worked in insurance before retiring, said he hoped people would enjoy looking at his photographs, adding: "I just wanted to show people what happened. How many people know what goes on when a bird builds a nest? I have been fortunate enough to witness it."

It is the Kidderminster Historical and Archaeological Society member's third exhibition, as he has previously displayed photographs illustrating the history of the former British Sugar Factory, which used to be in Stourport Road, as well as the Castle Motor Company, previously in Green Street.

He has also written several books about the history of Kidderminster in the 19th and 20th centuries and had hoped to get his blackbird story published before he decided to hold an exhibition.

The exhibition, titled "Aspects of Nature", which started on Saturday, runs until the end of the month and includes recent photographs of countryside around the Wyre Forest, taken by librarian, Jeremy Hamblett, as well as pictures from the library's archives.

For opening times, contact the library on 01562 824500.