This is getting blatant. And it's not an isolated incident :(
Thursday 28 March 2013
"Stealing" material?!
We've had plenty of sightings of Blue Tits going in and out of the box, but a very modest (i.e. virtually no) addition of material to what should become the nest. And now this...
I may be being paranoid, but is that a tiny piece of moss she's actually removing from the nest?!
Nest building is normally the first couple of weeks of April, and given the near zero temperatures there is every possibility it could even be slightly later. Starting to worry this might be another false start though.
Keep watching...
We are.
I may be being paranoid, but is that a tiny piece of moss she's actually removing from the nest?!
Nest building is normally the first couple of weeks of April, and given the near zero temperatures there is every possibility it could even be slightly later. Starting to worry this might be another false start though.
Keep watching...
We are.
Sunday 17 March 2013
2013 is a whole new year...
So regular readers will have have deduced that we drew a blank in 2012. I was worried that with a poor summer for Blue Tits, we might struggle to attract tenants this year as well, but I have now seen enough positive signs to warrant a post.
In the last week of February we saw Blue Tits entering and leaving the box, but weren't quick enough to snag any video. Then on 3rd March, we had a double visitation - note the two birds, one with a black dot on (his I think) cheeks, the other with cleaner white patches.
Also, notice how clean the box is. Just the dead spider and a bit of dust. That is important, because look at this!
The white cheeked bird today, 17th March, testing the box is sound by tapping it with her bill. She also appears to be testing the space by spreading her wings to check she could cover her clutch (the reason I think this one is the female). And look! A straggly bit of moss, and some other wispy things (possibly from the Fiesta Nester) can only be one thing. Nesting material!
Black spot is still around too. Although he will ultimately do nothing to help build the nest, he is still happy to help with the house hunting. Here he was earlier today.
We are in a state of high excitement here - will 2013 be the year? We'll keep you posted.
In the last week of February we saw Blue Tits entering and leaving the box, but weren't quick enough to snag any video. Then on 3rd March, we had a double visitation - note the two birds, one with a black dot on (his I think) cheeks, the other with cleaner white patches.
Also, notice how clean the box is. Just the dead spider and a bit of dust. That is important, because look at this!
The white cheeked bird today, 17th March, testing the box is sound by tapping it with her bill. She also appears to be testing the space by spreading her wings to check she could cover her clutch (the reason I think this one is the female). And look! A straggly bit of moss, and some other wispy things (possibly from the Fiesta Nester) can only be one thing. Nesting material!
Black spot is still around too. Although he will ultimately do nothing to help build the nest, he is still happy to help with the house hunting. Here he was earlier today.
We are in a state of high excitement here - will 2013 be the year? We'll keep you posted.
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