Bird Box Diary

Wednesday, 11th April. 
The box has been having 'visits' from various blue tits for several weeks but there was no real sign of any nest building until today.  We first saw a bird bring nesting material at about 11.30 a.m.  More was brought over a period of about 5 minutes.  Then, there was nothing else added for over an hour.
This is how the box looked during the same evening.  The bird that was bringing the moss spent some of its time flapping around the bottom of the box to spread the moss and, perhaps, to test the softness.  It certainly rejected some pieces and removed them. 
Wednesday, 18th April.  
Last night, for the first time, there was a blue tit roosting in the bird box.  Over the last week, he/she has been in and out.  Sometimes bringing nesting materials and sometimes taking it out again.  On some occasions, he/she will bring some in and take some other out again.  I believe that this is probably a male who is trying to attract a mate to share his little 'love nest'  You can see that there is far more nesting material inside.  The weather has been very wet and/or cold for a week or so.  This may have delayed the plans for egg laying?
Wednesday, 2nd May.  
Things have been very quiet of late.  The blue tit has been roosting every night and bringing nest materials but was not forming a 'cup' for any future eggs.  Then, this morning, there was some real excitement!  I was sitting at my computer, doing the email, when I saw, on my wife's monitor, a blue tit come into the box.  It stood and chirruped and was quivering with excitement!  Another bird came in, looked around and left.  
Since then, there has been a great deal of activity and addition of 'soft' material. I even threw out some cotton wool and was able to video it being brought into the box.  I am now very hopeful that I will see a nest and eggs before too long.  Watch this space!!  
Thursday, 3rd May.  
 I was awake very early this morning and wondered whether I would have an egg!  When I got to the camera, the Blue tit was still sleepy and roosting.  Eventually she/he moved and...no egg.  Having left the box, there was a long wait before more material was added.
This is how the box looks at the moment.  I am still hopeful!
Friday, 4th May.  
Today, there has been more building and gathering. This afternoon, more time has been spent on refinements.  The tit was clearly seen to be adjusting the nest material.  The coarser stuff was pushed away and the softer was drawn in underneath.  

Still no sign of egg laying!  Tomorrow, maybe?
Saturday, 5th May.  
At 6.30 this morning, the box was empty but no egg.  Since then a bird has been in twice with more soft nesting material.  Maybe tomorrow?

Sunday, 6th May.  
This morning, I was writing an email to Ian Forrest on the bird watching newsgroup about not seeing two birds in the box at the same time. As I was writing it, there they were!  I had the video recorder running at the time and grabbed this still.  If you click on the image, it will take you to a short video of the event.  It lasts 6.34 seconds and is 259k.  Still no egg!

Monday, 7th May.  
 I was awake before 5.00am so I decided to check on the box.  The tit was asleep but later left the nest around 5.45. At 6.15 she returned and appeared to be laying.  She was panting, shuffling and turning for almost 30 minutes.  Just before 6.45, she got up and left.  As she did so, she seemed to push an egg under the rim of the nest cup.  I still have not seen it.  This still shows her appearing to push the egg with her feet.  Click on the picture to see a short video of her doing this.
Tuesday, 8th May.  
Here is a picture of what I saw at 5.40 this morning.  Certainly one egg.  I'm a Daddy!

Wednesday, 9th May.  
 I set the video recorder for 5.00 am and then watched it through.  As you can see there are now two eggs.  Viv and I were able to watch the moment of laying.  We saw the whole body strain and pulsate and then the wings parted a little, her back arched and her feathers stood up.  During this time, she was rhythmically pecking the wall of the box.  After a few seconds, she settled back down before preening herself.
There was also rather a strange display of aggression towards the bird box.  I went to look out of the lounge window and found that the object of this outburst was that there were two sparrows on the roof of the box sheltering from the rain.  I have made a loop of the event as she repeated this action thirteen times.  By then, the sparrows had seen me and flown off.  She soon calmed down.  If you would like to see this very short video, click here.  (It's 221k)

Thursday, 10th May.  
This was the sight at 6.30 this morning.  Three eggs, clear as day.  On watching the video replay, the egg was laid at 5.41 am.
Friday, 11th May.  
The fourth egg was laid at 5.25 this morning.  Shortly afterwards, I noticed that Mum was looking rather anxious.  When I went to look on the patio, I saw a magpie which flew off as soon as it saw me.  She calmed down, preened herself and left at 5.50.
Saturday, 12th May.  
True to form, egg number five was laid this morning at 5.21.  Since then, she has been in the nest quite a bit.  The male has been in to feed her on several occasions, too.
Sunday, 13th May.  
Egg number six was laid at 5.24 am.
Monday, 14th May.  
Egg number seven was also laid at 5.24 am.
Tuesday, 15th May.  
Egg number eight was also laid at 5.25 am.  What punctuality!
Wednesday, 16th May.  
Egg number 9 was laid this morning.

Thursday, 17th May.  
No more eggs this morning.  It looks as if incubation has begun.  Look back in two weeks to see the hatch.

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