Another visit to Box1 ...
More high jinks today!
... and a visitor to Box2 as well.
I don't know whether this is the bluetit that visited earlier, or another prospector. There are many bluetits in the garden so it could be either.
But clearly this picture, taken only 10 seconds later, is of a great tit.
I wonder how big the entrance hole is? Perhaps I should put a plate over the hole to inhibit great tits from nesting inside?
We had some excitement in Box2 today.
I don't quite know how this bluetit arrived in the box, there were no images of it entering on the outside camera. However, you can see that at this stage in the proceedings, ie at 12:54:42, it appears at ease!
Suddenly, it goes into alarm mode - beak open, wings spread and at the same time it moves towards the entrance hole.
So what has caused this?
Well, you can see the cause of the trouble! That beak is enough to give any bluetit the heebie-jeebies!
We have had nuthatches giving our boxes a look several times in the past and it never comes to anything. According to the RSPB, nuthatches require a significantly bigger hole than the one on this box which is currently 28mm.
A second later, our bluey is right beneath the entrance hole and judging by his open beak, still giving an alarm call.
However, the nuthatch is still outside, so he is right to keep up the commotion.
Then the nuthatch seems to get distracted by something else and flies off.
Four seconds later, you can see the bluetit taking a careful look out.
"Has he gone?"
Fifteen seconds after the nuthatch flew off, our bluetit is still taking no chances!
Ah well, it would be nice to have a nuthatch nesting in one of our boxes. However, to get one we would have to set the hole width to 32mm or even bigger - and then what else might take up residence?
Perhaps we will try it one year - but not this!