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Post by matt on Mar 4, 2019 12:51:43 GMT
Lovely pics Karen! All quiet here for a few days now - our birds are southern softies and the slightest bit of wind and/or rain and there is no sign of them! To be fair though the weather has been awful!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 4, 2019 13:04:07 GMT
GORGEOUS pictures Karen! Matt, I wouldn't worry its same for us all, Even my sparrows who was in full swing on nest building have completely stopped. I am sure when the weather picks up again visits will happen again.
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 4, 2019 13:04:23 GMT
haha, this Storm Freya has been nasty but not too bad up here, just very windy, most of rain has been overnight. Hope the Spring weather returns soon.
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Post by sammi on Mar 4, 2019 14:24:33 GMT
Such lovely pics and how observant you are I must start to see if I can spot any recognisable features on my birds. Your pics really do bring out their gorgeous colours. I have two male blackbird around at the moment. Now they make it easy for me. One has a white wing feather and one has a white spot on his head. White wing man has been around for a few seasons now ...I wonder if white spot man is an offspring. Must try to get some pics before one is chased off the territory.
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 4, 2019 14:35:21 GMT
Awe thankyou Sammi, Thats cool having two Blackbirds with white feathers,I have a starling that has white tail feathers and I recorded it on the BTO unusual plumage survey. You should look it up.
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Post by sammi on Mar 4, 2019 20:56:43 GMT
Karen Yes the BTO do a lot of great surveys. I record our chaffinches with the deformed feet on their site. We seem to have a couple around at the moment I've been counting birds for them for a few years but had a bit of a lull recently with family taking time but back on it now.
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 5, 2019 11:49:19 GMT
Pretty chilly here today, but Shorty the male has been in the tree box again, giving it a peck and a look over,last few times that I have seen they have arrived together and have a feed, I think she is a quicker eater as she then flies off to the next place while he is still munching, once done he then has come to the tree box and gone inside and spent sometime pecking around inside and on the entrance hole, then off he pops to catch up with Speck. This happened today and yesterday just like that each time but I believe they are still going next door too, either to feed or visit the next door box, hard to tell as the shed blocks the view . Oh how I wish I could read the minds
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 5, 2019 11:54:29 GMT
Still very early days Karen, I can't say my boxes have been getting much visits at moment. I don't have mine on a recorder and dont turn them on normally until 10:30am / 11am so I could be missed a great deal of the action. But from what I am seeing when I do look nothing special is happening. So I think alot of us in same boat at moment loads of visits then nothing at all. I think its only Kathy who as building happening with her Flo.
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 5, 2019 12:12:59 GMT
Very true Paul, I just find it weird the male is coming loads but not so much with the female, she does her own thing while he goes into the box. I havnt seen much of the other pair either of late, but no doubt as this month goes on and if the weather stays ok they will make their minds up.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 5, 2019 12:25:46 GMT
Karen, This is probably cause its the males job to get the female into nest sites. Maybe this female is preferring your neighbours box more so isn't willing to check out other sites because she as already picked the one she wants? Just an idea that would make sense, You said you have two pairs though didn't you? So even if that is the case atleast you have a back up pair.
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 5, 2019 12:50:46 GMT
I have a feeling she prefers next doors, although she has been in the tree box many times and been giving it nest wriggles every so often since mid January, just last Friday she nest wriggled in there too, but time will tell. So frustrating
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 5, 2019 13:50:12 GMT
I wouldn't worry to much yet, Still early days, Most us just getting visits now and again. Your ahead of me when comes to blue tits because I haven't had a nest wriggle yet (that I have seen of course)
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 8, 2019 9:49:58 GMT
Lovely bright sunny morning here . Its been an interesting few days watching the BTs. Speck and Shorty are definitely showing way more interest in next doors box, the other pair Leftie and No blur haven't been around as much, but on Wednesday Leftie showed up and went straight to the tree box and was calling for his mate to come, while doing so Speck flew in and sent him packing, he didn't seem too perturbed as he continued calling for her and hanging around the tree box for some 15 minutes, Speck flew in again and chased him off, he returned around 20 minutes later and went again to the tree box entrance calling for his mate to come and yet again got chased away. So it would seem that Speck and Shorty are defending their patch and any boxes in it.
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Post by YorksherLass on Mar 8, 2019 10:04:11 GMT
Don't give up hope Karen, as Leftie may get fed up of trying to use your neighbour's box & constantly getting chased away. If he is stubborn, he may then use your box so that he can say "nah, nah, nah" etc. to Speck meaning " OK, I can't have your box, but you're stop stopping me from becoming your nuisance neighbour!"
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 8, 2019 12:09:40 GMT
Haha thanks yorkshirelass, but it is our box Leftie is wanting to use but Speck is in protest even though they are keen on next doors! Seems like they dont want any neighbours at all.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 8, 2019 13:07:40 GMT
Sounds about right Karen, By the sounds of it the male interested in next door box runs both your garden and hers. He won't let another male init that is why he is chasing the one from your box again and will do so until he gets the hint and doesn't come back. Normally ends in a massive fight, If your male is chased away easy it shows the other male runs your garden and next door. The only way two nests that close together will work is 1 male 2 females. Your best chance at moment would be next doors male chasing away your male and then pairing up with the female. I had this in 2016 when 1 blue tit male had 3 females on the go and they all nested closely however he did only feed 1 set of chicks. It was his first females chicks he fed so he stayed loyal to his first pairing. Another 2 females had to do it alone but they had my help with mealworms / waxworms so did good! Its all about territory and a male blue tit will not let another male anywhere near its territory.
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 8, 2019 14:23:53 GMT
Exactly Paul, I was gonna ask you about the 3 nests that you had were they the same male with the females?, cause he is ruling the roost for sure, the other female isnt coming around much, at least not when I have been watching, I think Lefty has got the picture though I haven't seen him today when looking out this morning, so unless Shorty gets a new lady friend the tree box is redundant sadly Also I have been studying pics of Shorty and and I have a sneaky feeling he could be Boulder, I am not 100%, but he is remarkably similar My avatar pic is Shorty. Both have the same short chest stripe and lots of white to their bellies. The pic on the calendar at the moment is a good comparison to Shorty. Here is Boulder.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 8, 2019 16:11:09 GMT
Wouldn't be surprised if it was the same male Karen, We had the same male for a number of years in our garden. We know it was him due to his extra long tail was massive compared to other blue tits. He run our garden for a good 3 seasons and was the male who had the 3 females in 2016.
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 9, 2019 7:21:38 GMT
Well he is very similar in looks, if I was a betting women I would put money on its him! Going by last year he may well get another female I noticed a change in behaviour between Speck and Shorty(Boulder) he doesn't chase her around the trees anymore they just seem to hang out together, have you seen this Paul, does it mean that now he has won her heart so to speak then he doesn't need to show off to her?
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Post by suep on Mar 9, 2019 10:15:42 GMT
My goodness Karen, this is more tense than the thriller I am reading. Next chapter please. Hope there is a happy ending. Sue
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 9, 2019 10:34:41 GMT
Me too suep, I so hope he finds another female and brings her to the tree box, or any of my boxes for that matter I am an optimist so I am hopeful.
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Post by elle on Mar 10, 2019 15:14:32 GMT
Goodness Karen, it’s all going on at your gaff!! Elle xx
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 11, 2019 9:22:18 GMT
Exactly Paul, I was gonna ask you about the 3 nests that you had were they the same male with the females?, cause he is ruling the roost for sure, the other female isnt coming around much, at least not when I have been watching, I think Lefty has got the picture though I haven't seen him today when looking out this morning, so unless Shorty gets a new lady friend the tree box is redundant sadly Also I have been studying pics of Shorty and and I have a sneaky feeling he could be Boulder, I am not 100%, but he is remarkably similar My avatar pic is Shorty. Both have the same short chest stripe and lots of white to their bellies. The pic on the calendar at the moment is a good comparison to Shorty. Here is Boulder.
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Mar 11, 2019 9:23:43 GMT
Ooops!!!! Sorry, I was admiring this photo..... was trying to reply but somehow re-posted the picture without my comment. What I was saying was, "I love this picture" ha, ha!!!
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 18, 2019 22:48:27 GMT
Hi all, nothing much to report really from my boxes, the BTs still seem interested in next doors box, although this morning I witnessed the male taking the female around all the boxes again one by one, she went in each one while he sat nearby, then tootled off to next doors again, I imagine they will start building shortly! Anyway I am pleased to report that the nest box I put up at my work has got tenants moving in! I saw her bringing moss in at 4.30pm as I arrived for my shift. She was ripping moss off that had grown onto some old stones that have laid in the garden for years, great to watch. I will take the camera tomorrow and get some pics.
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