We start at a quarter past ten with the bluetit going into the box.
Box2 is being visited more than the other two boxes and today we saw a bluetit defending it from an investigating nuthatch!
At more or less the same time, a nuthatch lands on the roof of the box.
At first the bluetit doesn't look alarmed.
It should be! This nuthatch has decided to take a closer look.
The nuthatch moves closer. Look at that beak! If I were a bluetit, I wouldn't want to get into a fight with that!
Our bluey has woken up to the threat and taken up a defensive posture.
"My box!"
Not only is it spreading its wings but its beak is open so presumably it is also shouting at the nuthatch.
It makes a sudden and rather ungainly move closer to the entrance ...
... and takes up its defensive posture just below the entrance hole.
I don't know quite what is happening here - but clearly the message the nuthatch would be getting is that this box is occupied - "Keep Out!"
No change by the nuthatch.
At first the nuthatch appears to be giving up.
"It's not much of a box anyway"
Does it have second thoughts?
The bluetit is unwavering ...
... and then appears to go into overdrive!
That was enough - the nuthatch went away.
Victory for the bluetits!