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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 16, 2024 18:20:18 GMT
Thanks pete, still lots of time though so fingers crossed!
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 17, 2024 17:14:32 GMT
Very busy day today, the moss is still coming in! I checked my data on previous nests I have had and the earliest date they have started up to now is the 29th March. I have called my pair Emma and Dexter after the couple on One Day on Netflix, hopefully these to will have a happier ending.
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Post by pete11 on Mar 17, 2024 21:28:23 GMT
Well done BTs. Keep that moss coming in! 👍
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 17, 2024 22:18:08 GMT
Nest is really coming along! Pleased for you Karen you deserve it after being overlooked last year.
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Post by suep on Mar 18, 2024 14:21:59 GMT
Looking fantastic Karen. Few bits of moss in my box but ashamed to put a picture up because of the state of the box . Doesn’t seem to be bothering them at all though . Sue
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 18, 2024 15:41:06 GMT
Thank Paul and Sue, Im really chuffed, really missed having them around and watching them raise a family.
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 23, 2024 8:03:06 GMT
DAY 10 Phase two of nest build seems to be underway, she is focusing on the cup and bringing in soft material, hanging basket liner seems to be the favoured liner so far. It doesnt seem to be the deepest nest I have seen so perhaps she is thinking of a small clutch of eggs.
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 26, 2024 10:27:10 GMT
NEST BUILD DAY 13
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Post by pete11 on Mar 26, 2024 15:08:00 GMT
All looking good 👍 I'd almost forgotten how long they spend building the nest!
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Post by karenupnorth on Mar 26, 2024 22:29:32 GMT
Thanks pete, yes she is doing a great job, looks like she has done it before, Dexter is in all the time inspecting her work and gets in the way.
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 1, 2024 9:46:34 GMT
Quick update on Emma and Dexter, she is pretty much done on the nest building, lots of feathers and soft stuff, I was certain she might lay her first egg this morning as she roosted in it the night before but wasnt to be. I have been unwell with a tummy bug so have been in bed resting so have been watching them on the tv, she has been displaying some odd behaviour, she grabs hold of her right wing and goes around in circles, she will do this for quite a few minutes could she be trying to pluck feathers for her nest? I will try and get footage of her doing it, as anyone else seen this behaviour?
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Post by suep on Apr 1, 2024 15:17:23 GMT
So sorry you’ve been poorly Karen, hope you will be feeling much better soon . My hubby suffer with diverticulitis so I know how horrid tummy troubles can be. Dont know what to make of Emma’s behaviour, seems a bit strange. Never seen it myself but be interesting to see if anyone else has. Do post a video if you manage to catch her doing it. Looks like all going well with the nest anyway, so hopefully be eggs any day. Good news. Sue
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 2, 2024 8:34:02 GMT
Here is the behaviour I was mentioning, any clue what she is doing? She has only just started doing it a few days ago, I wondered if she is trying to pull feathers out for her nest, or some kind of irritation mites?
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Post by pete11 on Apr 2, 2024 20:15:57 GMT
I can't help thinking it might be some kind of irritation - like you say maybe mites? They do pluck feathers for nesting I think, but only from the lower abdomen - I think that maybe also helps create a heat patch of bare skin for incubating eggs...? So plucking at wing/shoulder feathers would be for a different reason. That's my view anyway. Probably wrong!
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Post by suep on Apr 2, 2024 21:25:20 GMT
Never seen this behaviour before Karen. Wonder if she’s got something small stuck in the wing or a bit of a broken feather that is annoying her. Seems very odd. Obviously not bothering her too much as continuing to nest build. Hoping you have eggs very soon Karen and hopefully whatever is bothering her will cease or the hibernation and rearing of chicks will help take her mind off it. Sue
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 3, 2024 7:55:22 GMT
Thanks sue and pete, its a strange one, I cant see anything obvious stuck in her wing, but yeah I think it is an irritation of some sort, I just hope she settles ok, still full on and involved in the nest, no eggs as yet though but cant be long now ,
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 4, 2024 9:28:37 GMT
Emma continues to bring in feathers and even little pieces of green leaf from somewhere, I am beginning to hear that shrill sound the female makes when getting attention from the male. I have put up the feeder with live meal worms in but they havnt ventured in yet.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 4, 2024 13:34:00 GMT
So pleased you've got a nest again this year Karen after missing out last season, You out of everyone deserves it! Keep the updates coming
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Post by sammi on Apr 6, 2024 8:24:37 GMT
So lovely to see your bluetit nest building. I haven't seen the wing pulling behaviour in a box before. I agree something is irritating the bird. The bto may be able to shed some light. Hopefully it won't be a problem for a successful breeding season. I'm still without any moss or sign but at least there are birds still visiting the boxes.
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 6, 2024 17:33:05 GMT
Thanks sammi, still time yet so I hope you get some action.
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Post by suep on Apr 8, 2024 9:54:24 GMT
Any news on eggs yet Karen? Sue ps hope you are feeling better 🤞
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 9, 2024 6:35:43 GMT
Hi sue, I am feeling much better and getting back to normal . Still no eggs to what I can see, she still bringing in feathers and fluff periodically through the day and roosting at night, each morning I switch on with excitement hoping to see an egg she must be hanging on to time it with the environment I guess.
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 9, 2024 9:39:12 GMT
Dexter is up to tricks, he has just enticed a different female into the nest! Emma I presume wasnt around at the time, she came in 20 minutes later and played with cup and wriggled totally unawares hope this isnt going to cause an upset.
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Post by suep on Apr 9, 2024 9:45:25 GMT
Omg these naughty birds , what are they like. Beginning to think they are no better than some humans Hope Emma doesn’t find out - though how you tell the difference is beyond me I can never tell one from another except by their actions . Sue
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 9, 2024 12:00:18 GMT
She is carrying on as normal, brining feathers in and sprucing up the nest. This other female had different marks around her head was easy to tell her apart on this occasion, but also she was investigating the nest and not acting 'at home' like Emma does, just wish she would hurry and start laying
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