Bluetit Diary    May 2009 (8)

A male GSW was on Box2 early this morning.

It wasn't just a fleeting visit either.  It appeared to inspect the box pretty thoroughly.

Seven minutes later is was at Box1.  Unfortunately, he seems to be able to get his head through the entrance hole, and if he can do this for Box1 then he can do it for Box2 also.  However, he cannot reach as far as the nest cup.

This is only a small comfort though as when the chicks are getting near to fledging, they spill out of the nest cup and often huddle just below the entrance hole.  If they did this, then the GSW could reach them quite easily.

Fay can't do much except keep low and shout at him to go away.

If Bill were around, perhaps he could pester the GSW from the rear!

Life appears to get back to normal pretty quickly once the GSW has left.

Nine minutes later, he's back again.  Here Bella is just about to give the chicks a mealworm ...

... when the GSW arrives.

Fortunately, he doesn't seem to be trying to make the hole any larger.  Thank goodness we have a metal plate installed!

Again, Bella can do nothing except sit on her chicks.  She hasn't even had time to give a chick the mealworm which you can still see in her beak!

Clearly, something has disturbed the woodpecker.  I think it may have been Elizabeth who saw what was happening and rushed outside!

Without the GSW, life quickly gets back to normal parenting duties!

Over at Box1, Bill hasn't been seen for ages.  To begin with we thought that this might be him ...

... but to judge by this reaction from Fay, she doesn't think so!

The intruder clearly looks male with his head feathers erect ...

... but Fay is still not welcoming him.

Where on earth is Bill?

Back at Box2, Bella has brought another feed.  Fortunately, we haven't seen the GSW since early this morning.

A faecal sac is removed from the box shortly before the system closes down.

As it is lighter in the evenings now, we shall probably stay on until 8:30pm tomorrow!