Today, we think we have seen our first mating in Box1! While we have seen a pair mating outside their box some years ago, this is the first time we have observed such intimacies inside.
Before I get to today's main story, here is another picture of Kelly. She is steadily getting more fluffy as time passes and if it wasn't for the fact that by this time last year, Fluffy was even worse, I would have no hesitation in identifying her as Fluffy.
Here Kelly is showing us that in the field of one winged nesting wriggles, she is world class - as of course was Fluffy!
However, in spite of both these indicators, I'm sitting on the fence for a bit longer.
Our main story starts at 9:43:04 when a male bluetit went into Box1.
I shall put the time that each of these pictures was taken beside each one so you can see how the story unfolds.
9:43:06 Directly he has entered the box, another bird lands on its roof.
Our first thoughts were that this bird was also a male as it had a very wide white band around its head. However, subsequent events have changed our minds about this.
9:43:12 The reaction of the bird inside was to adopt what seems to us to be a defensive posture - crouching down and spreading its wings in what looks like an aggressive attitude.
9:43:16 The bird outside is obviously not put off by this and enters the box anyway.
9:43:16 The male inside looks particularly unwelcoming - but we have been confused by our bluetits' behaviour before. Presumably the incoming bird understands the message better than we do!