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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 10, 2019 13:44:26 GMT
Have the visits by blue tits to your boxes totally stopped now matt? I think you would of updated if you had visits like but just asking incase they was only visits to outside the box etc.
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Post by matt on Apr 10, 2019 14:12:48 GMT
Not a sniff Paul. Last bird to visit was that starling a few days ago, and the motion trigger did go off a couple of days ago for a wasp as well.. Funny thing is I am seeing more of the bluetits in the garden than before - we must be in the foraging patch at least.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 10, 2019 14:19:34 GMT
Using you to fattening themselves up for egg laying on your food Matt but nesting elsewhere, Aren't they cheeky??
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Post by blueeyedchick on Apr 10, 2019 14:22:09 GMT
I feel that about my Starlings Matt, coming to the feeders but no sign of nest building! That claw defo Starling looking for a nest site. That happened with me so reason for erecting a box here big enough for them!
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Post by YorksherLass on Apr 10, 2019 15:03:23 GMT
I feel so sorry for all of you being "used for feeding" and then if/when all your blue tits desert you for your neighbours nests. We don't have that problem at all, as nobody has nest boxes anywhere near us for starters, they all have bare fences too. We very rarely see starlings, I think the last time we had two in the garden was five years ago. Two magpies visit regularly, crows call for a drink but they nest at the front of our house in the sycamore trees.
One visit from a sparrow hawk in 12 years, no herons (not that we have any fish) but two ducks waddled across our lawn for a drink a few years ago! Think they got lost as newbies, because one & a half miles away from us is a huge lake in a Park with swans, tons of ducks, starlings, magpies & the rest! Possibly why all the little birds come here?
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Post by matt on Apr 11, 2019 8:10:53 GMT
7 visits this morning over the space of 10 minutes. Intense pecking of the inside of the box and the hole. No idea what this visit is all about - definitely the same male - and this is the most interested he has been for at least a month. Could there be another lady? I'll keep you posted.
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Post by matt on Apr 11, 2019 8:24:52 GMT
OK - the plot thickens a little. I have had a chance to review the videos properly, and the first visit of the day was by what appears to be a great tit (first of the season) - see pic below, which is best I could get. This then quickly followed by 6 visits from the usual male bluetit. So now I am wondering if this is a territorial behaviour from the usual male, having seen the GT show a bit of interest? If so that is probably less promising than I thought.. and also suggests those BTs must be nearer than I think perhaps?
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 11, 2019 9:33:49 GMT
I imagine that is probably the case Matt, Unless the male blue tit as been inside trying to get female in, Bowing down calling etc, He could of seen with great tit interested and he owns the area so it’s pee’d him off. But who knows? I think if there was signs he was trying to get another female in it could of been for a second female but if it’s all happened after the GT visit it’s most likely because he still as ownership over your boxes.
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Post by matt on Apr 11, 2019 9:42:54 GMT
Yes, that's what I think too Paul. I got a little excited because I had 7 videos recorded, and when I watched them I didn't see the GT at first - just the male BT, with lots of furious pecking inside and out but not calling, and no sign of the female. When I went back and the saw that the first visit was a quick inspection from this GT, then it makes it look like a territorial dispute. So not content with nesting elsewhere, they will try and stop anyone else nesting there too! Would have thought it was a bit late anyway for a GT to start but who knows?
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 11, 2019 10:18:43 GMT
Good thing is GT will win the fight with a BT, Wouldn’t be good viewing for you to see, But if the GT want that box they will have it. Hmm I don’t know Matt, this time of year when most us have complete nests etc it’s about “second females” or nest been disturbed at their first pick. GT do have 2 broods a year sometimes, So could even be checking your box planning ahead.
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Post by matt on Apr 11, 2019 10:24:47 GMT
You never know Paul. Hopes not raised, but interesting to see nonetheless - I always like to get more pics of the birds if nothing else. Here is the male BT from one of this morning's visits:
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 11, 2019 11:11:32 GMT
Gorgeous picture Matt, you have hands down got the best quality images on the forum. That’s why am little pee’d off that it looks so far you won’t be getting nest I am just hoping for a second female for you
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Post by matt on Apr 11, 2019 11:22:48 GMT
Thanks Paul, at least I got to test the new cameras & lights out and got some nice pics of the bluetits. And a starling's foot.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 11, 2019 12:02:08 GMT
That made me laugh With GT being on the scene now though, I would give it another week or so before you fully "give up" hope. I just have everything crossed for you to get a late nester now!
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Post by suep on Apr 11, 2019 12:36:16 GMT
Oh Matt, I so want you to have a nest. Love your pics and it would be really sad if you weren’t to get anything this year. My son had a pair of blue tits in and out of his box but saw no nesting and now he thinks a pair of great tits are claiming the box, but he hasn’t seen materials yet. I have yet to investigate this for myself. If your great tit wants the box it’s pretty certain he would win any battle against the blue tit so , one of the starts to build. Sue
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Post by YorksherLass on Apr 11, 2019 13:44:51 GMT
It was blue tits which nested in our box every year from 2008 until 3 years ago, when I saw the first great tit go into it, then thank goodness all I saw was both having squabbles in my small weeping copper beech tree which is bare until late April, for about 3 days. Then the great tits nested & have done since - never seen a blue tit fly into it ever again - they just come to feed now & then fly off.
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Post by sammi on Apr 11, 2019 16:28:14 GMT
Great picture Matt. I've still got faith in you getting a nest They are still house hunting down here. A male ( my rooster?) even tried to get a female interested in his messy box today. Needless to say she didn't stay long
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Post by elle on Apr 11, 2019 20:13:25 GMT
Matt im sorry to differ from Paul & Sue about the Gts winning over Bluetits, but they obviously haven’t seen the territorial bluetit what rules my neighbourhood Even I wouldn’t take him on and I’m no pushover when it comes to protecting ‘family & home’! Iv seen seen bluetits in my garden scrapping in mid air with great tits and chasing them off my boxes, this is why I know I will never have more than 1 nest at a time in my garden.......The bluetits won’t allow it!! As I’ve said before I think I’m the only one with boxes, but plenty of natural habitat for them to pick.
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 11, 2019 21:42:36 GMT
I agree Elle, next year I am going to put up a new box which will allow GTs but the BTs are so terrestrial I am not sure if they will get chance, I have had them looking this year but hole not big enough, so will see what next year brings.
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Post by matt on Apr 16, 2019 10:02:13 GMT
Nothing really happening, but a strange (?) uptick in visits over the last week after a couple of weeks of nothing at all. Two of my boxes are getting near daily visits now, always quite early in the morning, but just the male and no obvious signs of enticing a female. Lots of pecking though, and the visits are quite sustained (a few minutes, sometimes). I wonder if this is some sort of territorial thing - just a "this is my box, even though I'm not actually using it" type of thing? Anyway, hopes well and truly not raised in any way but I thought I'd share
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2019 10:22:43 GMT
Could be males trying to entice second females Matt. Given you are situated so far south i'd have expected nest building to be well under way by now. Fingers crossed for you!
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Post by matt on Apr 16, 2019 10:30:21 GMT
For sure Benn, last year was supposed to be a late one but they were well under way by now. Second female is our best shot here, but I haven't seen any sign of one and he hasn't been crouching and calling when in the box - just pecking at the floor and around the hole. I'll leave the cameras on for now anyway, you never know.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 16, 2019 10:44:24 GMT
I imagine its due to it seeing the GT visiting your boxes Matt. He will probably keep watch until his eggs hatch with the female and he doesn't have the time to no more. I think this weekend is probably going be peoples "last shot" at getting a nest meant to be 20c and sunny over the full Easter weekend into next week. I'll have my fingers crossed for everyone without a nest I think it would be a better sign if he was trying to get a female into the box, Lone visits by a male I imagine its just due to the GT visit.
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Post by matt on Apr 16, 2019 11:16:08 GMT
Yeah I can quite genuinely say that my hopes didn't rise at all - I am now at peace with the current situation!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 16, 2019 11:25:42 GMT
Yeah I can quite genuinely say that my hopes didn't rise at all - I am now at peace with the current situation! I think I'm more gutted for you than you are yourself How does that work out?
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