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Post by starling78 on May 26, 2022 20:37:58 GMT
Whilst on a very wet walk in Wales today I became aware of baby birds chirping. I knew it was close but couldn’t think where it was coming from. After standing and observing for a while I was surprised to see a great tit entering what looked like an owl box? - much larger than a robin box. I patiently waited and sure enough it popped up with a fecal sac in its mouth. This huge box seemed a strange place for great tits to nest to me. I have seen blue tits nesting between tree roots and I have also seen them in metal ash tray type boxes with holes, but these both seemed quite safe from predators. This box seems very vulnerable and open enough for squirrels, magpies, jays, woodpeckers etc etc. It made me wonder if anyone else has seen unusual choices of places to raise a birdie family??? J  Very similar scenario at my allotment last year! someone had placed a very similar box on a tall wooden stake and inside a bluetit managed to rear a brood, it has no takers this year though, also last year spotted this on a lamp post, quite what the parent collared doves were thinking I'll never know, it did seem to last longer than expected but I don't know what happened in the end as it was a little far from my home.  |
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Post by suep on May 26, 2022 20:25:53 GMT
Great photo, well done  Sue |
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Post by starling78 on May 26, 2022 20:20:57 GMT
Here we are  apologies for the angle, it was a hurried snap on my phone  could be 4 or 5 will hopefully get a better one at some point!  |
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Post by suep on May 26, 2022 19:07:26 GMT
You are right Benn, those metal ‘boxes’ must be so hot , especially if they are anywhere in the sun. I am sure many a chick must have perished in them. I wonder if it would be worth asking the manufacturers of them to make the holes too small for blue tits to enter. After all cigarette buts don’t need that big a hole do they? I wonder who we could get in touch with. Goodness knows who manufactures them. May have to investigate this!
Sue
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Post by suep on May 26, 2022 18:26:51 GMT
Sad to hear the tiny babies perished it but so so pleased one made it to fledging. Great picture of mum watching from above. At least this one will have its parent total attention to teach it all it needs to know to have a great start to life in the big wide world.
Sue
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Post by sammi on May 26, 2022 16:41:20 GMT
Glad one made it out safely
At least he will be well looked after as an only child.
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Post by sammi on May 26, 2022 16:37:53 GMT
Beautiful photos Sue. Another hooked household  Have a good holiday. |
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Post by sammi on May 26, 2022 16:29:36 GMT
Lovely picture of them all. I know what you mean. I keep thinking I've lost one and then another head pops up .
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Post by sammi on May 26, 2022 16:24:05 GMT
Any news on fledging Sammi? Sue They are still all there I think Sue but counting heads is a nightmare  . Flying and singing practice mainly today |
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benn
Junior Member
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Post by benn on May 26, 2022 10:30:11 GMT
Great Picture Matt, They look really good!
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benn
Junior Member
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Post by benn on May 26, 2022 10:28:45 GMT
Sue, We regularly walk along the Leeds Liverpool canal and used to start and finish at a pub called "The Cross Keys" in a village called East Marton before it sadly closed for good due to the pandemic  . Every Spring a pair of Blue Tits used to nest in the metal ashtray attached to the wall next to the entrance. Likewise the landlady used to put a big sign up to stop people putting their butts in. We used to enjoy drinking our beer on the tables outside watching them carry green caterpillars in from the large oak tree outside!!! I often told them to put up a nestbox next to the ashtray as the chicks must have been very hot on sunny days! |
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Post by karenupnorth on May 26, 2022 10:03:00 GMT
What beauties, hope they fly high and free and keep safe.
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Post by karenupnorth on May 26, 2022 10:01:34 GMT
Thanks everyone for your well wishes, she did manage to remove it, I didnt witness it but while walking down the garden path I saw him laying on the path, awe so fragile but so perfect but just not strong enough to contend, I laid him to rest in our wildflower garden  |
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Post by suep on May 26, 2022 9:51:30 GMT
Beautiful picture Matt  , they are adorable. Sue |
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Post by suep on May 26, 2022 8:23:49 GMT
Any news on fledging Sammi?
Sue
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Post by matt on May 26, 2022 8:22:27 GMT
Managed to get a pic with all nine clearly visible - which hasn't been easy I have to say!  |
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Post by suep on May 26, 2022 8:20:00 GMT
Thanks Sammi Maybe next time I will be able to find the right depth bowl for the Scott feeder and they will use it  Hi Ann, I used to use an old fashioned ramekin dish in mine that fitted perfectly but I dropped it and every one I found after that was just too big. Then I came across these little plastic containers that are meant for crafters to put odd bits in, and this worked perfectly this year for my daughter. Not as stable as a dish but seemed to be fine - just a suggestion. |
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Post by springtime 66 on May 26, 2022 4:41:59 GMT
Thanks Sammi
Maybe next time I will be able to find the right depth bowl for the Scott feeder and they will use it
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Post by springtime 66 on May 26, 2022 4:39:06 GMT
Sorry to hear this rather sad out come to the blue tit nest, very upsetting for you
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Post by sammi on May 25, 2022 19:49:34 GMT
Oh that is so sad. I'm hoping against hope that the parents show up and manage to save some.
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Post by sammi on May 25, 2022 17:46:32 GMT
Sammi I’ve just been catching up on your posts, lovely videos of your blue tit family I have a Scott feeder but it’s not been used I’ve not found the right size container to put in it to make the feeder usable At the moment the great tits are using the box that my husband made Ive no feeders hanging up at the moment as it has been manic with sparrows and the starlings flying at it, all my feeders are globe caged ones Hi Ann I can't remember where my little white pots came from but I'm down to my last 2. It's good they use hubby's box. Soon all will be quiet sadly. |
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Post by sammi on May 25, 2022 17:41:41 GMT
Brilliant Sammi, out of interest which team did you go to watch? Hi Benn We are Manchester City fans and were there 10 yes ago for the Aguero moment and they put us through it again almost this year  Are you a football fan? |
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Post by Taz on May 25, 2022 17:15:18 GMT
Always sad to lose the Chicks, fingers crossed she can remove it
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Post by Sheena on May 25, 2022 16:36:02 GMT
Well Mrs Blue Tit laid 7 eggs and 6 of them hatched on Monday. Yesterday, both parents were feeding them (although they ignored my offering of mini mealworms). However, it poured all this morning, only stopped at about 4pm and it looks as if the parents have abandoned the nest. A few of the chicks are still moving a little, but there are now insects coming into the nest which is not a good sign. I am afraid (as has happened before) that all of them will be dead shortly. It is always so sad when this happens. The first few days are absolutely critical and the weather hasn't been kind here, not only raining but windy and chilly. So signing off for another year.
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Post by suep on May 25, 2022 16:25:16 GMT
Just goes to show how versatile these little birds are - though I am sure safer and easier sites could be found. Love the video Sammi (our ears must be attuned to the sound of chicks ). That traffic cone is a really unusual one Benn, I so hope nobody moved the cone and they fledged successfully. The one I saw in an ash tray type container was at a crematorium but luckily someone had realised a nest was being built in it and had posted notes around it asking people to kindly not use . Sue |
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apologies for the angle, it was a hurried snap on my phone 
could be 4 or 5 will hopefully get a better one at some point!
Have a good holiday.
. Flying and singing practice mainly today
. Every Spring a pair of Blue Tits used to nest in the metal ashtray attached to the wall next to the entrance. Likewise the landlady used to put a big sign up to stop people putting their butts in. We used to enjoy drinking our beer on the tables outside watching them carry green caterpillars in from the large oak tree outside!!! I often told them to put up a nestbox next to the ashtray as the chicks must have been very hot on sunny days!
, they are adorable.
Are you a football fan?
