merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on Mar 24, 2019 15:41:05 GMT
Hi everyone. Our great tits have built their nest, the female is roosting every night and we think we had our first egg 2 days ago although hard to see.
They always seem to nest early in this bird box although they are ahead of last year by over 2 weeks.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Mar 24, 2019 15:48:37 GMT
Looks like you have the first egg of 2019 in that case Meryl! Congrats You got any pictures of the nest? You can read up here how to post your pictures its abit different compared to the other site - birdboxdiaries.boards.net/thread/4/upload-images-postsLook forward to your updates, Seems like your birds are ahead of everyone.
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merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on Mar 24, 2019 16:35:27 GMT
Here are a couple of images. We think there is an egg in the bottom right of the box. She is not spending much of the day in the box or bringing in nest material other than some of the cat fur I leave on the hedge for her!
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Post by suep on Mar 24, 2019 16:51:01 GMT
Looking like you are our front runner Meryl. keep us updated. Great news. Sue
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Post by Beechnut on Mar 24, 2019 17:54:44 GMT
Wow Great! Meryl I seem to recall that for the last couple of years you've been ahead of the rest with your GTs.
Best of Luck for this season.
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Post by sammi on Mar 24, 2019 18:14:38 GMT
Great news Meryl....everything crossed for a successful nest for them
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Post by Bluetitkeeper on Mar 24, 2019 18:51:51 GMT
Great news, Great tits always start nesting slightly earlier in the season. Last year I had either a second brood or a different pair after the first successful brood in late May, early June.
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merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on Mar 25, 2019 9:20:59 GMT
Hi everyone. Think we were mistaken about the egg. She has moved things around and whatever it was disappeared. Hard to tell as our camera is linked to an old telly with flickering screen! We'll keeping looking....
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Post by Beechnut on Mar 25, 2019 10:17:23 GMT
Easily done Meryl when you're wanting to see one there - lots of things seem to look like an egg. Anyway
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Post by Beechnut on Mar 28, 2019 9:10:39 GMT
Any further developments Meryl, or is your pair behaving the same way as mine?
Despite my GT female Tuppence, having completed building last Friday-Saturday, she seems to be holding off the egg laying, just bringing in bits of fluffy stuff five or six times a day and depositing it about the top of the nest.
It may be that she isn't ready to lay so early, for whatever reason, but I have not known such a long gap between nest completion and the start of egg laying.
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merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on Apr 1, 2019 6:46:40 GMT
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Post by Beechnut on Apr 1, 2019 8:34:11 GMT
Great news Meryl, looks like there could be four.? I wish I could get a view of the nest uncovered like that. Tuppence spends about an hour covering the cup each morning and I only get a lucky sight of parts under her when she stretches a wing or leg, and can only see one egg at a time, so I haven't a clue how many there are under her, two or three hopefully.
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merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on Apr 3, 2019 10:40:01 GMT
Our great tits look to have 5 eggs and she's just started brooding them this morning. Last year we had 8 eggs but perhaps they've decided smaller is better!
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Post by Beechnut on Apr 3, 2019 11:06:05 GMT
That's good news Meryl - yours are in line with mine, although I'm not sure that she's finished yet.
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Post by suep on Apr 3, 2019 14:41:01 GMT
Fantastic news Meryl and Beechnut, so good to see laying going on. Sue
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Post by Beechnut on Apr 4, 2019 6:24:20 GMT
Thanks Sue, things are a bit slow and unpredictable this year imo.
Meryl, any addition to the five from yesterday? Mine has not added anything this morning, so it's going to be a small brood this year.
I had 6 eggs last year, but one hatched a full day behind the first and was always last at the feeding and subsequently died, the remaining 5 fledged sucessfully.
Good Luck with yours.
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merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on Apr 5, 2019 18:13:26 GMT
Hi Beechnut. Its been 3 days since the last egg and she's brooding a lot during the day. Small clutch for us too this year I think.
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merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on Apr 18, 2019 7:02:41 GMT
We have 2 out of the 5 eggs hatched this morning! Started after 5.30am. Mr and Mrs GT bringing in the mini mealworms.
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Post by Beechnut on Apr 18, 2019 7:25:26 GMT
Good News Meryl
Hope they all hatch today - they certainly started early enough, mine were nearer midday.
Good to see the GTs leading the way!
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Post by blueeyedchick on Apr 18, 2019 9:34:16 GMT
Aw lovely to read you have chicks Meryl started early didn't they.? however, well done to your birdie. I wonder what the food situation is out there are you getting in live food just in case?
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Post by YorksherLass on Apr 18, 2019 15:06:58 GMT
Very pleased to read your news Meryl, so the parents will be working hard now particularly if the other eggs have hatched too!
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merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on Apr 18, 2019 18:11:43 GMT
We have 3 chicks hatched and 2 eggs are left. I am slightly worried given that the first hatched this morning before 6am. The male has been bringing in food as has Mrs GT in between brooding. We have mini mealworms and slightly larger specimens to the delight of the 2 robins who I think also have chicks. I was worried this morning as 2 jays were taking building material from a fan fern only a few feet away from the next box and I am hoping they didn't see the GTs flying in and out as otherwise I shall have to be on guard duty.
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Post by elle on Apr 18, 2019 20:20:22 GMT
Great news Meryl, congratulations fingers crossed for the others Elle xx
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Post by hfriel on Apr 19, 2019 8:12:22 GMT
Wonderful Merlyl yahoo_clap Hope you get a ‘full hatch’
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merylt
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by merylt on Apr 19, 2019 14:27:05 GMT
The other 2 eggs have not hatched. Each parent is now bringing in food including the mini mealworms although they are actually a bit large for them. At least the 3 chicks should get plenty of food and attention. Mrs GT is still sitting on the eggs but not looking likely.
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