Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2019 18:16:33 GMT
Some better news. In March we added five more nest boxes to the three we erected 2 years ago in a young Moorland wood planted in 2000. This is 1.5 miles up the road from where we live. We went on a walk in this afternoon's bright sunshine and thought we would try to ascertain if any were being used. We took a picture first by sticking the corner of an iphone into the entrance hole and checking this for any sign of birds inside so as not to disturb them by lifting the lid.
The first had a nest and one egg. Not sure if this has been abandoned or if its the first egg laid. (see photo 1.)
The second had a number of mature Great Tit chicks. (photo 2)
The third was occupied by a pair of Blue tits who were not happy to see us. So we left it.
The fourth had a partially built nest. We heard some Coal tits nearby so fingers crossed (photo 3)
The fifth was unoccupied.
The sixth had a sitting Great Tit (photo 4 quite a dark picture but you can just make the sitting female out.)
Number 7 was unoccupied but had signs of a rooster.
Number 8 had a sitting great tit who we saw on the camera and who hissed at the disturbance so we backed away without a photo.
So 6 out of 8 ain't bad with signs of use in one and one uninhabited box. We are going to mount another 4 boxes in the Autumn as they are only about £5 each with the 28mm plates.
The first had a nest and one egg. Not sure if this has been abandoned or if its the first egg laid. (see photo 1.)
The second had a number of mature Great Tit chicks. (photo 2)
The third was occupied by a pair of Blue tits who were not happy to see us. So we left it.
The fourth had a partially built nest. We heard some Coal tits nearby so fingers crossed (photo 3)
The fifth was unoccupied.
The sixth had a sitting Great Tit (photo 4 quite a dark picture but you can just make the sitting female out.)
Number 7 was unoccupied but had signs of a rooster.
Number 8 had a sitting great tit who we saw on the camera and who hissed at the disturbance so we backed away without a photo.
So 6 out of 8 ain't bad with signs of use in one and one uninhabited box. We are going to mount another 4 boxes in the Autumn as they are only about £5 each with the 28mm plates.