The following series of pictures are from nesting box 1, commencing February 2003. There has been a blue-tit roosting in this box every night since November last year.
Click on a picture for a larger view.
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| Roosting, March | 20 March, nest building starts. | 24 March, more nesting material. | 1 April, nest building continues. |
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| 24 April, the first egg? | 25 April, three eggs now. | 27 April, 5 eggs. | 28 April, 6 eggs. |
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| 29 April, 7 eggs. | 30 April, 8 eggs. | 30 April, sitting. | 1 May, 9 eggs this morning. |
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| 2 May, 10 eggs. | 12 May, still sitting. About two days to go before the first egg hatches. | 14 May. I think there are three chicks which have hatched this morning. One is just visible on top of the two eggs at the bottom left. | 14 May. Feeding time. Dad brings some food, and an open beak is clearly visible. |
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| 17 May, At least five chicks all resting. There is one unhatched egg clearly visible, and there maybe more still unhatched. | 19 May: Unfortunately, only two chicks have survived the night. 4 unhatched eggs visible, but they are not going to hatch now. | 19 May: Later in the day, and 5 unhatched eggs visible.The two chicks are at the left. | 21 May: Only one chick remained last night, and so far this morning, it has not been seen. However, the hen continues to sit on the nest. |
Later in the day, she must have realised the eggs would not hatch, and finally abandoned the nest. It would seem that for the third year running, the unseasonally cold weather has taken it's toll.
Since then I have moved the nesting box to a position lower down the wall, and a bit less exposed, in the hope that next year I will have more success.
Page created 5 March 2003. Last modified 26 November 2003.