Henslaved Posted April 21, 2011 Author Share Posted April 21, 2011 How can you tell? I assume she won't announce it to the world like the chooks do BTW nest box 2 has definately been abandoned. I caught the Blue Tit from nest box 1 pillaging the best bits from it. Sorry about the quality as the only way I could catch it was on my phone, and the snuffly and tappy noises you can hear are from my dog, wondering what loony mummy is doing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 She sat there panting and straining on the nest for about 10 minutes. Blue tits sometimes build two nests and choose the one they prefer. Do you think it could have been the same pair? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted April 22, 2011 Author Share Posted April 22, 2011 Well OSH we have our first egg this morning a little sooner than I expected, but just in time for easter . Didn't see her lay it but it was there at 7am. And she is still pillaging from the other nest box, which definately isn't the same pair as I saw one female in each box at the same time. Which is a shame as I was hoping to watch both pairs and compare their progress . My OH thinks I am mad as I did a little egg dance this morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 How lovely . Great footage and such a tiny egg . We've had no luck with our nestbox for years . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted April 22, 2011 Author Share Posted April 22, 2011 We've had no luck with our nestbox for years . If it's clean and still sound, try putting it in a different spot for next year . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Thanks, might try that . (Not that we've got many options with such a small garden .) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted April 26, 2011 Share Posted April 26, 2011 Well, my live mealworms arrived today as there are plenty of hungry mouths to feed around here. We have a blackbird nesting a few feet away from the front door in the beech hedge and she hatched four little ones just a few days ago. The bloomin magpies attacked the nest today and even though I went to help mum out four or five time they got them in the end.....so sad. If she lays again at least the hedge would have greened up by the time they hatch. Our swallows are back but there is little mud to find to repair their nest so I have turned over an unused part of the veggie plot and given it a really good soaking. They have been helping themselves from that as have been quite a few bees, not mine I hope!! Nesting material and breakfast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted April 26, 2011 Author Share Posted April 26, 2011 Magpies . Good thinking about the mud for the swallows A pic from today, 5 so far, and dad seems really attentive always bringing her bugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 Amazingly clear, all of my blue tits have covered their eggs until the whole clutch has been laid. I wonder how many there will be in the end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted April 27, 2011 Author Share Posted April 27, 2011 Thought you might like to see a pic of Mr. Blue Tit, I think he is rather handsome Bug delivery , looks like a juicy green caterpillar I'm gonna go for 8 eggs in the nest, 6 so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted April 28, 2011 Share Posted April 28, 2011 He's very attentive......they should do well I found a blue eggshell under the swift box so the starlings have babies as well. http://www.biggonline.co.uk/ can be quite entertaining if a bit slavishly OTT. First time I've looked in this year. She has two blue tits nesting in the same box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted May 5, 2011 Author Share Posted May 5, 2011 I have been trying to upload another update since 29 April (have been having problems with youtube, the net and computer ). Success at last . She has laid 8 eggs and has started incubation . So, they should begin to hatch between 12th and 16 May . I love that little wiggle she does after a bug delivery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted May 10, 2011 Author Share Posted May 10, 2011 Got home from work today to find that one of the eggs has hatched . An hour later another one popped out. So, 2 so far, and Mr Blue Tit has been working his little wings off constantly bringing bugs, bless him. I have also just looked in the other nest box I thought had been abandoned, and there are 3 eggs in there . Will have a look later to see what bird has been laying in there as the eggs look slightly larger than the blue tits. I suspect possibly a great tit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Lovely.... Amazing to think that such a tiny pink grub will be out and flying at the end of the month. I found one of our starling chicks dead on the ground yesterday. I saw one gaping at the entrance hole at the weekend and feared this might happen. The box entrance is underneath as it is a swift box and there's not much I can do about it. Next year I'll seal the entrance till the swifts get here and the starlings are already nesting This was taken a few years ago, poor quality but it reminds me of the day I happened on this family of goldcrests,just fledged. One of my favourite birdy pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted May 11, 2011 Author Share Posted May 11, 2011 Great photo. Have only ever seen a goldcrest once down here, I had to look it up to find out what it was 4 pink grubs hatched so far , shame about your starlings. Definately a great tit in my other nest box, caught her covering her eggs this morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 The other bit of good news is that the blackbird whose chicks were murdered by the magpies is nesting in a dense clematis at the back of the garden.....I know it's her, she has a small white feather above one eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted May 13, 2011 Author Share Posted May 13, 2011 Good news about the blackbird . Well I think all 8 chicks have hatched, what do you think? I can't see any more eggs but there could be one under that wriggling mass of pinkness. I'm sure they have all hatched I just can't count all the little bodies . Nearly forgot to add that the great tit has 6 eggs so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 It's wonderful to watch them hatch. The female eats all the eggshells. Did you get a chance to watch any? Haven't they grown quickly...a few feathers already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted May 15, 2011 Author Share Posted May 15, 2011 This was the best chance I got to see anything, as mum was always standing over them blocking my view . She ate most of the shells but not all of them. I don't reckon much to the great tits partner, I haven't seen him once Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted May 19, 2011 Author Share Posted May 19, 2011 Just another update from this mornings activity, Amazing how they grow so quickly, some of their eyes are beginning to open now. Hard to believe that 9 days ago they were tiny pink grubs . They look like little neanderthals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
