Today was the day we decided to give in to the entreaties of the great tit pair and let them into Box1! Having spent the last week or so feeling guilty at having made the hole smaller this year, now I suppose we'll feel bad about ousting the bluetits!
The day started innocently enough with the 28mm hole plate still in place. Apart from the hole size you can see which plate is in place by counting the screws - the plate with the 28mm hole has 2 screws and the one with the 32mm hole has 4.
This great tit is still interested in the nest box and its persistence makes me wonder whether it has some memory of having been inside this box in the past.
It soon flies down to the box's entrance ...
... and has another try to see if it can get through the (28mm) hole.
It had no luck again that time, of course, but its keenness finally persuaded us to do something about it and put the 32mm plate back again!
An hour later, but before I had done anything, the bluetit came to take a look.
It landed on the hole and rather warily looked around. It stays outside though.
Half a minute later it pops up to the roof for a look from a different angle.
Then back down to the hole again.
Ten seconds later, it's off. This bluetit hasn't been inside the box much for the last few days. I think this makes it easier for us to give the great tit its chance!
I did the deed at about half past eleven. It took only a few minutes as all I had to do was unscrew the 28mm plate's two screws and replace it with the 32mm plate which I had from last year. The box's cameras did not have to be disconnected - indeed, the inside camera was able to take pictures throughout.
This was the first external picture taken after I had changed the plate. The 4 screws can clearly be seen.
As is quite common when I have been up the ladder doing something to the nest box, it was some time before any bird came to investigate. In this case it was nearly 2 hours before a bird came to have a look - and surprise, surprise, it was a great tit.
It spent nearly a minute on the hole checking things out ...
... and then, the magic moment, it took the plunge and went inside.
Inside the box at last.
As is usual when a bird goes into a nest box for the first time, it spent its first moments apprehensively looking around, pecking at bits on the floor or the walls, and as shown here, looking towards the entrance hole.
I'm not sure if it is looking at a spot high up on the wall, or at the camera.
Here it is perching on the exit hole and looking outside.
Ten seconds after the last shot, a bluetit comes to the nest box. I think it is in for a shock!