Bluetit Diary    Dec 2010 (8)

 

 

Thursday 30th December 2010 (cont)

I had presumed that that would be it for the day.  Each bird would keep quiet and avoid trouble while they recovered.  However, I underestimated Will's desire for the box!

Just 20 seconds after Harry had left the box, he comes back.

Only a second later, Will is back again.

This time, Harry is not ready.  Although he cannot be seen from the top camera ...

... from the side, you can see that he has retreated onto the shelf, his overnight roosting place.

However, he immediately flies up to the hole and tries to grab Will's right leg by the claw.  Will appears to avoid getting caught this time by jumping back ...

... but he recovers and immediately flies back ...

... and lands, holding onto the hole with one claw ...

... in spite of the fact that Harry is now waiting to challenge him on the hole.

As a result, Harry grabs Will's claw again and the same situation as occurred in their previous encounters results.

Will tries to fly away but he is now securely held by Harry.

Harry has Will's claw held firmly in his beak ...

... leaving Will to flap ineffectually outside the box.

Here Will again shows us the white under feathers beneath his wing.

Harry still has hold of Will's claw!

For several seconds ...

... Will struggles ...

... unsuccessfully ...

... but eventually ...

... Harry can hold on to him no longer and Will escapes.

Will flies away - the loser again!

Harry stays on guard for only a few seconds ...

... before returning to the peace and quiet of his hidey-hole on the shelf.