Our visiting Blue-tits

Info: Back in 2005 Lisa and I mounted a small bird box to the outer wall of our apartment, in a position on the right hand side of our balcony (actually with in the balcony). We didn't actually think that some birds would nest in it but early in 2005 a pair of blue-tits nested (unsuccessfully I'm afraid) and then again in 2006 we were visited by a pair of nesting blue-tits and this time they managed to successfully fledge five offspring. Following that season we bought and larger box to try and assist with the squished conditions that the previous families had encountered .............

Collared Dove Update:

The doves fledged from about the 15th to 18th June. Difficult to say when they exactly started jumping ship as they'd leave during the day (while we were at work) and then return to roost for the evening.

See here for some pics of their growth.

Wednesday 21st May '08

Looks as though our bluetits fledged this morning. A bit of a shame as we were hoping they would hold on until the weekend as then we could watch. As yet I haven't managed to spot the family group in the gardens but I think I did see a rather fluffy and young looking chick in the tree.

Anyway, we still have the collared doves left and as long as you don't get too close (30cm or closer) they stay put on their nest. They have hatched their two chicks now, so we should see some activity over the next few days and with our week off.

Friday 16th May '08

We think that the bluetit chicks are set to fledge this weekend. Both mum and dad are feeding them double-time at the moment and there is a lot of noise coming from the box.
Added to the pot this year is the Collared Doves on the opposite side of the balcony and their eggs should be hatching at some point over the weekend as well.

Tuesday 6th May '08

Spent the weekend in Exeter and upon our return a pair of Collared Doves have not only nested on the other side of the balcony from the Bluetits but in the couple of days we were away they have laid 2 eggs. You wouldn't think you'd manage to fit 2 nests on such a small balcony!

Anyway, I'm pretty sure we now have chicks in the bluetit box. Both parents have been out collecting food and taking it back to the box. Also, by standing by the box I can now hear chirping when both adults are in the tree.

Friday 2nd May '08

It does look at though the female is now incubating her eggs, while Mr B-tit is busy collecting food. This is made a lot easier with Lisa stocking the tree outside our window with a variety of their favourite foods. As usual, the female is a lot braver than the male. How ever, both were brave enough last weekend to fly in and out of the box while I was also on the balcony with my laptop - so long as I didn't look at them!

Saturday 29th March '08

Here's a quick pic from this morning. They are very active, if a little shy. Yesterday they were seen taking soft moss and hair (Lisa puts out Tilly hair for them in the tree) to the nest but today they have reverted back to slightly coarser bedding material

Wednesday 26th March '08

Since the weekend our new pair of bluetits have been pretty busy with their nest building. Again, the only problem with having the box on the outside of our bedroom wall is that they (or just one of them) are going through their pecking stage again and on both Saturday and Sunday I was woke up at about 6.30am by some pretty load banging (pecking) from our little friends.
If I get the chance, I'll try and get some pics this weekend.

Monday 4th February '08

At least one of our bluetits are back. We thought it was just the one but Lisa spotted the pair of them in the tree at the weekend. No nesting as yet but he/they are pretty noisy in the mornings (usually at the weekend) with their pecking and chipping away at the inside of the box

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