Activity in the nestbox 2012

[Catherine]

It seemed as if our camera nestbox was being ignored, but we decided we shouldn't be greedy after two Blue Tits rearing 11 chicks so successfully in it last year, and stayed pleased that we'd another box with BTs in the garden

However, a Sky TV engineer called next door to install a new dish for th folks who had just moved in, and scared away the pair which had nested successfully in the lower eaves of that house. I think it is they who have chosen our camera box for their new nest now!

Here are a few pics - taken on 12th, 13th and 14th April - plus a couple of videos!

New Blue Tit pair - New BT pair | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Later today - Later on the 14th... 2.30pm | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

(Will try loading pics tomorrow - just cannot get them to fit size required by site tonight... )

[rolf]

That's great news Catherine, a couple of great videos there as well.

[Catherine]

Right.... third time lucky - as they say!

She only started building her nest on 12th. Now, just three days later it is all but finished!

I guess it was a necessity if they were to be able to bring up a little family though - they'd lost SO much time already, and I'm sure their old nest would have been a lovely, comfy home.

Just a soft lining needed now I think.........................

[rolf]

Well they've done a great job at short notice.

[Catherine]

I have to say that, apart from in that first video (where he seemed to be urging her to work faster) the male hasn't really done very much!

[rolf]

It's in our genes Catherine.

[Catherine]

Two more from today...

Feathering her nest - 17th April - pm - feathering her nest | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

- and fast asleep at 10,30pm

Note the way she seems to scold her mate when his shadow appears at the doorway!

(Sorry, but the sound has never worked on this camera. Such a pity!)

[Catherine]

Diary notes for the 18th - 6th day of building;

I wonder if there's a near-bald, once-white-feathered bird fluttering around somewhere? - Feathers! I need feathers! When is he going to bring me more? | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Our little builder impatiently awaits more building material from her male friend!

Here she is, looking out of the door;

[rolf]

Oh yes, looking very comfortable now.

[Catherine]

Looks as if we have lift off!

21st April - An egg is laid! | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[rolf]

Excellent, should see a couple more in the near future then.

[Catherine]

We now have at least 3 eggs in the nestbox.

I thought Dolly was going to stay and incubate them as she is so behind with her programme now, but after being fed by Jet, she decided she wanted to go back out again!

23rd April - Dolly lays another and Jet comes in with breakfast | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[Catherine]

That has now gone up to 5 - at least!

[rolf]

Oh wow, they're really doing well.

[Catherine]

Yesterday, Jet tried to feed Dolly, but she was being difficult and he was getting a bit frustrated!

He tried to pass a lovely piece of green caterpillar to her, but she was facing the wrong way and Jet didn't want to land inside the box. Finally she got the message and turned round, but it was one very stressed Blue Tit who passed over the tit-bits.

This was the first Tortrix Moth caterpillar which I had seen this year, and I think Jet's excitement was partly due to the fact he so desperately wanted to tell Dolly they were 'on the market' - the perfect food for baby Blue Tits!25th April - Jet feeding Dolly | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The first photo shows the six lovely little eggs Dolly has laid so far - perhaps that's all she'll lay this year since she was late in starting again? This was the only time she'd left the nest, leaving the eggs uncovered - perhaps another sign that incubation will start soon!

The second one shows Dolly sitting on her eggs - feathers everywhere - so it's a bit like 'Where's Dolly?'

[Catherine]

Before I leave for London - today's pic - egg no. 7!

[rolf]

Excellent, let's hope the food supply stays plentiful.

[Catherine]

This is what I saw earlier today.

She's now sitting on the nest, but I don't know whether she's laying another or starting to incubate the eight!

[WD-40]

Brilliant, eight eggs, looking forward to the hatching.

[Catherine]

Considering she didn't start to build the nest until 12th April, I think she must be in line for some sort of award.

Maybe there's an Oscar for Birds, a 'Brit (Birds)' Award, a Golden Egg award/other?

She left the nestbox a short while ago, but never stays away too long now.

The other BT box is having frequent visits from the male bird, but not enough to say the eggs are hatching yet. Our Oak is SO far behind the usual just now, I worry that there will be enough food for them if they hatch too soon!

[Catherine]

Five of the eggs have hatched!

This morning, this is what I saw - dig the 'hard hat' on one chick's head in the first video!

Dolly helps baby remove his 'hard hat'! | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

10th May, 2012 - 5 have hatched! | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

10th May, 2012 - 5 have hatched! | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

and 10th May, 2012 - 5 have hatched! | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[rolf]

Super news Catherine, love the nest box videos, thought we had a storm trooper chick in the first one.

[Catherine]

He (?) just didn't seem to be able to shake the shell off his head, so Dolly had to give him a hand in the end!

Storm Trooper?

Maybe even a little Stig?

[rolf]

Well it's a rough world and a little extra protection doesn't hurt.

[Catherine]

This morning, one more egg hatched.

I'm not sure if the others will hatch now or not, but it seems from this video (taken half an hour ago) that Jet has better feeding techniques than Dolly - and she seems quite miffed because of that!
11th May - both parents feeding the chicks | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[rolf]

Sorry, missed this post Catherine, yes, he definitely has a better technique.

[Catherine]

Here are a few videos to help get you up-to-date with things in the Blue Tit household;

Early on 13th May - 13th May - early on | Flickr - Photo Sharing! - note how nestlings are pale, with no sign of feathers there

On 15th May - 15th May - Mum does the housework after feeding her little ones | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Taken yesterday - 16th May - flight feathers showing 6 days after hatching. | Flickr - Photo Sharing! - note flight feathers appearing!

Also from yesterday - 16th May - another feed. Baby one still to show flight feathers, but she's a day younger than the others! | Flickr - Photo Sharing! - Baby, the one who hatched a day later than the others, has still to show any flight feathers.

Tortrix Moth caterpillars are now plentiful on the Oak tree as the leaves have opened out a little bit more. The leaves are still several weeks behind last year's ones though, such is the effect of the very cold weather.

[Catherine]

Since I posted (below) things have not gone well.

Over the past few days, poor little no. 6 has been wanting fed, but has been ignored. (See pic below)

Yesterday morning it was sad to see him reach out, but not being given anything to eat. - 19th May - Has no. 6 been fed? | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

When I looked in last night, I could see that no. 6 had given up, and his sad little body was lying at the rhs of the nest. - 20th May - Dolly and Jet seem confused. as no. 6's little body lies motionless on the right of the picture. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Even sadder perhaps, there was no sign of no. 5!

Both parents seemed to be quite worried about this, continuing to feed the others well, but they kept flying in and out of the box in an agitated fashion. Poor Dolly couldn't settle when she returned to the box for the night, always trying to tuck something in under the nesting material - I guess it was 2 little bodies.

So 8 eggs were laid, Six eggs hatched - albeit one a day later than the others - and now only 4 chicks have survived. That's only 50% success - IF those all actually manage to fledge now.

Let's hope they all make it! (Here they are this morning - 21st May - early feed | Flickr - Photo Sharing!)

(Here is a pic of Jet too, sitting on the Clematis/Wisteria combo outside the nestbox a couple of days ago.)

[rolf]

That's very sad Catherine, let's hope they can successfully manage the remainder.