Bluetit Diary    Mar 2007 (17)

 

 

Thursday 29th March, 2007

This warmer weather has focused the minds of all our birds.  Greta spends a lot of time in her nest but has not added to the material in it for some time.  We feel that she completed it a couple of weeks ago!

Fay is as scatter brained as ever.  She spends much of her time re-arranging her nesting material - taking it in and out and generally messing about with it.  She regularly does nesting wriggles over the floor of the nest box. 

In the last few days Abby has decided that she had better start building her nest.  Fortunately, or perhaps because of its good design(!) she is building it where she was expected to - under the overhead camera!  Unfortunately, during these cold nights, she has realised that if she snuggles up to the camera overnight, it keeps her warm!  The trouble with this is that by so doing, she prevents any pictures from being taken!

During the last couple of days, we have seen more of Angus and today there is an sequence showing him feeding Abby

Here we see Abby inside the nest box with Angus coming to the entrance hole.  Although you cannot see it, it is apparent from what happens that he is carrying some food for Abby in his beak.

This shot of the same event from the top camera shows the differences in the head feathers between the sexes.  Angus's head feathers are rougher and his white head band is wider.

Abby greets Angus and asks for food.

Angus arrives on the floor of the nest box and they touch beaks.  You'll have to ask Abby whether any food changed beaks!

The same shot from above. 

Directly he has passed the food to Abby, Angus turns to go.

Compare the top of their heads - Angus's head feathers are rougher and streaked with white.  As the nesting season progresses, so do the male's head feathers become more and more untidy.  Eventually, many males become completely bald!

Away goes Angus ...

... leaving Abby alone in the box again.

She doesn't stay long before she thinks about leaving herself!