Today was not a good day weather wise. Near freezing temperatures and periods of sleet and snow all tend to deflect birds' thoughts from nest making. There were no visits to Box1 but despite the weather, Box2 was fairly busy.
This bird, which is visiting Box2 at just before 10 this morning, is clearly female (see the nesting wriggle later) and is the bird that that has made us wonder whether Fluffy is back again.
We're probably a bit obsessed about Fluffy, but she is a feisty bird. In 2003 she successfully finished rearing her chicks after her partner disappeared a few days before they fledged when they were at their most demanding.
Having said all that, we think she could be Fluffy for two reasons. First, she is sprouting some ruffled feathers at the same spot that Fluffy started showing this trait (although the condition is about a month behind 2004 which you can see by looking here.)
Then, she does a one winged nesting wriggle, the only bird of the half dozen that we have observed over the last few nesting seasons that we have seen exhibiting this behaviour.
Whether her partner is again Barney, we cannot tell. However, this bird is clearly male. The feathers on the top of his head are not smooth and of uniform colour like a female but streaky and a bit tousled.
Whether he is a tough guy or not, he still crouches down when his partner enters the nest ...
... and leaves almost immediately she has come in.
Here is another nice shot of a bird coming to the box. It's a pity about the lighting - I have been looking at last year's pictures which were taken from a much better location.
Here you can see what I mean about the female's head feathers - smooth, of uniform colour - quite definitely more feminine!
It is now the middle of the day, and some blue sky has appeared. What incredible things birds' feathers are!
Too late great tit - I think our bluetits have put down a deposit on this box!
This shows what I said earlier about the male's head feathers quite clearly - a typically masculine topknot.