Bluetit Diary    Jan 2010 (3)

 

 

Sunday 17th January, 2010

We are still getting a few visits each day into Box2.  However, with the weather we are getting at the moment, I do not expect any serious nesting activity to take place!

There was one thing of interest to long term readers of this diary, and that is that this bird reminds us of Fluffy, the female that occupied this box in 2003 and 2004.  Fluffy started showing a small area of ruffled feathers, very much as you can see in this photograph.  However, in her case this developed into a large area of such feathers all over her front.

It is quite possible that this bird is one of Fluffy's descendents as her broods fledged successfully each year. However, if there is a connection it will be very tenuous!

This shows Fluffy late in the season.  She is the only bluetit that we could be confidant of recognising each time she came to feed!

When she moulted, her new feathers were initially perfectly normal but her fluffiness developed as time passed.

It didn't seem to affect her ability to find and keep a mate, and both her broods were successful.

I can't finish this post without mentioning the snow!  Like most of the country, we have had lots of snow - this picture was taken on 8th January after a snowfall of about 4 inches.  Our garden birds soon became quite desperate for food.  For example, on one occasion, our 50 foot square garden once had about 20 blackbirds in it at the same time!

We also had some amusing antics on the bird table - this time it was two robins who didn't quite seem to know which one was the boss!

This is a very rare event in our garden - two nuthatches.

We frequently get a nuthatch on the bird table or on one of the feeders, but a pair is exceptional!

Now the snow has disappeared and life can get back to normal again!