Bird Boxes

[JennyWrenn]

Do they, like Robins, still stay near their nesting box - if so can you see your Great Tits around - I shall be so worried when mine flee the nest - their tweeting is now really loud - dont know how many are in there

[Tig]

I think they stay in the trees which are close by for a while, but soon depart to spread their wings. Although I noticed a parent great tit with a 'flapping wings - feed me' youngster by the bird feeder tonight, so they may stay around if they know there is food about

It is just nice to know that they have hatched, fledged and will join the local bird community, and I don't seem to have any insects on my veggies at the moment so they are more than welcome to come again

x Tig

[JennyWrenn]

I think today is the day - I recognized that noise made by the parents to encourage them out of the box - they are now sitting on the top, popping head in but no food in mouth

Just seen a little head pop out and then pop in again - oh it is so worrying - am upstairs at bedroom window, cold and getting wet and camera at the ready

At least the cats wont be prowling round; too wet

[Jasmine]

A magpie has been terrorisng our box of blue tits for a few days and we have been chasing it away but we have come back from a couple of days away to find the box on the ground. (It was nailed to the tree). The magpie had been launching a full scale attack on the box to try and get in. There was no sign of any blue tits except for one poor dead baby bird. I am so upset about it - I know it is how nature works but the parent blue tits had worked so hard raising and feeding their little brood. I just hope the rest got away.

[JennyWrenn]

Oh Jasmine what a sad story I would have been upset too

When I was a little girl you hardly saw a Magpie

[farmersboy]

You did around our way Jen,there were loads,and still are,i expect to see a lot tomorrow early in the morning,they seem to always be on the sides of the roads,dont know why

[Tig]

Merrily planting out a few more veg, when I noticed that the great tits hadn't fledged, and suddenly plop - out one came and landed almost at my feet - quick dash back to house for camera - here it is ..







Got them on video too, wish I could share, but it's in AVI format and a huge file to upload

x Tig

[Tig]

I spotted another - bit more grumpy looking ;D





This one managed to fly across the garden, into the contorted hazel

Cat is on her cushion in the dining room, gives them a chance to spread their little wings

x Tig

[Plocket]

Aw they are so cute! Lucky you Tig!

We had a baby something on our windowsill this morning but it wasn't quite as fluffy as your little chap. It flew off as soon as it saw us move in the house.

[Shrubrose]

Smashing pics Tig! You're a wildlife magnet m'girl ;D Good luck to the little things - they're on their way

[JennyWrenn]

Aw they are lovely so ickle and fluffy - I would have had to sit out nearby to keep any eye on them - did Mum and Dad feed them

I wanted to see mine but they have all gone and left now
Didnt even leave any rent money

[JennyWrenn]

May 29, 2008 13:48:15 GMT Tig said:

I spotted another - bit more grumpy looking ;D









This one managed to fly across the garden, into the contorted hazel

Cat is on her cushion in the dining room, gives them a chance to spread their little wings

x Tig

I could choose which one I loved the most ;D

[purplejulia]

May 29, 2008 17:40:02 GMT JennyWrenn said:

May 29, 2008 13:48:15 GMT Tig said:

I spotted another - bit more grumpy looking ;D









This one managed to fly across the garden, into the contorted hazel

Cat is on her cushion in the dining room, gives them a chance to spread their little wings

x Tig

I could choose which one I loved the most ;D

I love both of them too Tig, so I will nominate both!



PJ

[Amo]

May 29, 2008 18:02:22 GMT purplejulia said:

May 29, 2008 17:40:02 GMT JennyWrenn said:

I could choose which one I loved the most ;D

I love both of them too Tig, so I will nominate both!




PJ

OH just handed me a G&T and laughed his head off!! His fav was the last one, an mine too, on the rocks!!!! ;D ;D

[Tig]

Ohh, thank you all for the nominations, I am extremely lucky when it comes to spotting wildlife in the garden, there are still some great tit chicks which haven't taken the leap of faith yet, and the bluetits are still in their box

Mum and Dad Great tit have been soooo busy today, I felt worn out watching them. Their language was attrocious when I got close to their babies ;D

Glad I could share them with everyone x Tig

[JennyWrenn]

My babies didnt want to know me - just left without saying goodbye

Yes photo No 2 is the best - what big mouths they have eh ;D

[flowersfriend]

Lovely.......
FFx

[Tig]

Not really a bird-box in the conventional sense But birds are stupid sometimes!
Mr & Mrs Blackbird were making a right racket by the back door this morning, I thought the cat was too close to one of their fledglings but couldn't see anything. Then I heard a loud echoing peep? Searched but could not find?? Only one other possibility - the garage, and sure enough baby blackie had somehow managed to get in



Then, after some gentle persuasion, I managed to get it out (colour difference put down to using suppressed flash in the dark of the garage?)



Hasn't got tail feathers yet so hopeless at flying.

x Tig

[Shrubrose]

I dont know how you do it Tig - every day there's something new - and very welcome it is too.

He's a little cutie isn't he? Is he still about?

[Tig]

I don't know why we get so much wildlife in our little patch either Shrub, especially since the cat adopted us, you would think the birds might steer clear The blackbirds are almost tame too, they follow me round, they don't fly off when I approach, I have to shoo them away sometimes!

There are several babies still around the garden, all peeping to be fed, none of them have tails so they are pretty useless at flying! I just hope the cat behaves, although she has been very good, she caught a sparrow in the week, but nothing else - I would have gone mad if she had caught the great or bluetit chicks !

x Tig

[Tig]

Not the same brood - still got tufts on its head (looked owlish ;D) spotted resting between showers ..





x Tig

[Shrubrose]

I think we'll be needing a competition just for your best pics Tigs ;D Beautifully done Missis!!

[Tig]

Thanks Shrub, but I hope I am not boring you all with baby birds, insects and flowers? x Tig

[Jasmine]

Not sure if there is already a bird box thread - if there is please move this.

Just spent 10 minutes watching 2 blue-tits checking out the box on the maple in the front garden. It is right at the top of the drive as close to the road as you can get in our garden but it has been used before, 2 years ago. (That did not end well, a magpie found them and actually pulled the box off the tree - it is nailed in more securely now).

Anyone else got birds looking over suitable properties?

[Barbara]

We've had a box up for 10yrs, and nothing has used it keep saying I'll move it, blackbirds do use the clematis though,

[Ladygardener]

Oh I hope they use it for you Jasmine. Barbara it does sound like you should move it.

[Jasmine]

I think I've mentioned this before but a very good friend of mine moved a few years ago and they dumped their bird box on the sloping play house roof until they had time to put it up but in the meantime 2 blue tits used it and raised their family in it.

There was a stall in the shopping cenntre selling bird boxes with cameras in them - £78. I would love to be able to watch the parent blue tits raise their chicks.

[snowowl]

I have 4 differant shape and size boxs up and they were never used for years.
But 2 years ago a family of robins raised 5 babys in one i was thrilled to bits.
I am not sure if the sparrowhawk scares all the birds of nesting in my garden nowdays.
I will wait and see if any are used this year but i wont hold my breath.

[Jasmine]

Littlest twin made a robin box about 4 years ago but it has never been used. Maybe this year

[Barbara]

Mines a robin box, I wonder if anyone told them, maybe I should put a sign up telling them. ;D