Another changeover in Box1.
I was hoping for something similar from Box2 or Box3, but nothing like that happened in either of these two boxes today.
At least a bluetit went into Box3. We are still wondering whether anything will come of this box this year, and any visit is a good sign.
Friday 28th February 2014
We thought that the entrance holes for our boxes were too small for a great tit, but today proved us wrong. Our entrance holes are 28mm as although the RSPB recommends 25mm for a bluetit and 28mm for a great tit, we have always found that such holes are too tight for Mayford birds - perhaps because Elizabeth feeds them so well! - and therefore use 28mm for a bluetit and 30mm or even 32mm for a great tit.
day started as normal with a bluetit coming to Box2 quite frequently, but never managing to entice his partner to come inside too. This visit was at about 11:10am
I am not positive that this is the male either. Without the two birds side by side it is difficult to tell. Perhaps we have never seen two birds in this box because that stage has passed and this is the female?
Whichever it was, it didn't stay inside long - approximately 10 seconds.
Off he goes! (For simplicity, I shall assume this is the male!)
About 8 minutes later he is back
He appears to be keeping close to the nest box, even when he is not going inside it.
Eight minutes later a great tit lands on the box entrance. He's not going to try to go inside the box is he?
It looks like it! He doesn't find it easy though.
He didn't manage it that time.
He tried again!
This time he is successful!
As usual, when first entering a strange box, a tit stays quietly looking around.
Here he is inspecting the top of the box where the camera is housed.
After about 10 seconds, he hops up to the exit hole.
Getting out again looks a bit of a struggle!
He's really having a hard time getting out again.
Made it at last!
In less than a second, the bluetit is back - no hanging about here - he flew in at great speed ...
... and immediately adopted a hostile display
MY box!
The bluetit stayed inside, usually on the hole, for several minutes ...
... before going outside the box again.
Even then, he hung about outside for quite a long time.
It looks as though Box2 is spoken for as well as Box1!