As in previous years, the nesting box was cleaned out late last year. There has been a blue-tit roosting in this box throughout the winter.
Like last year, nest building started much later then previously, and the first signs of a nest appeared on 1 May. Follow the progress with the images below, and click on an image for a larger view.
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| 1May; the start of a nest. | 3 May, proceeding quickly. | 5 May, a nice nest now. | 12 May, 4 eggs carefully hidden, but just visible. |
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| 15 May, 6 eggs. | 20 May, 6 eggs. | 21 May, sitting. | 26 May, The first chick. |
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| 27 May One egg left to hatch. | 2 June, only one chick surviving. | 7 June, growing feathers. | 10 June, more feathers. |
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| 10 June, on the move. | 10 June, exploring. | 10 June, the first night alone. | 11 June, feeding a mealworm. |
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| 14 June, growing well. | 16 June, looking outside. | 16 June, gone! |
Our lone baby blue-tit has now left the nest, and was last seen in the tree nearby. I don't expect any more activity in the nesting box until the winter, when maybe a bird will roost in there. Let us hope for better results next year.
Page created 1 May 2006. Last modified 30 October 2006