We have been watching the progress of our two nest boxes over the past week to 10 days, but although the weather has been brighter it has not been much warmer and progress has therefore been slow. In fact in box1, you could say that it has been nonexistent! Is this the first year without a nest being built in this box?
Box1 is still attracting some interest from a great tit. This picture is from Sunday 26th March ...
... and these two from two days later. Another great tit brood would be nice. I think great tits nest slightly later than blue tits so there is hope for us yet!
Whether it was as a result of the great tit's interest, or just a coincidence, but a minute or so after the picture on the right, a bluetit came to the nest box.
This bird then entered the box and took a great interest in the camera at the top of the box. It visited once more that day at just after 11am but that was all.
Although progress in Box2 is still slow, it is more encouraging. Kate was still taking almost as much out of the box as she was bringing in, but not quite. This shot was taken on 28th March.
She often seems to return with some nesting material she has removed and take it back in again. This picture was taken a couple of minutes after the one above and I can well imagine she still has hold of the same piece of nesting material!
This is the next day and she is still doing the same thing!
However, you can just about see that the overall affect of this coming and going is positive. This was the state of the box on Wednesday 29th March.
But on Friday 31st March, it doesn't look any fuller. Kate is still at it though so we shall all have to be patient!
On 1st April, the box looks a little fuller. Ben (the male - Ben and Kate make a fine pair!) is inside when Kate comes back to the nest box.
Ben leaves immediately and Kate celebrates with a nesting wriggle. It's business as usual no doubt!