While both our birds are sitting on eggs, there is nothing much to report. However, Kelly's clutch could start hatching on Tuesday so we shall be keeping our fingers crossed for her. Babe has quite a lot longer before her chicks hatch. Not having had a great tit family before we can only rely on reference books to guide us about her eggs hatching date.
This is Babe leaving the nest early this morning.
Here are her five eggs she is leaving behind in the nest..
And here is an unwelcome visitor wondering what's going on inside the nest box.
We often get into discussion with some of you about whether starlings represent a threat to the chicks. None of our books mention starlings predating on the chicks of smaller birds, but this one is clearly interested in something!
Perhaps it is just that starlings are inquisitive birds and this is something new!
The starling was there for just 7 seconds before
...... zoom!
Babe comes rushing back. She is clearly not going to give the starling the benefit of the doubt!
Her first action is to cover the eggs.
For some time afterwards she stayed on guard - alert with her tail fanned out. This behaviour is also to be found in the bluetit.
Soon things are back to normal and here Ferdinand is bringing her some food.
This was followed by five more feeds in close succession! Perhaps he was feeling guilty because he had been caught napping - again!