7 chicks about to fledge

There are 7 healthy chicks in the nest box at the moment just on the verge of fledging! They are all crowded around the hole looking out, practising wing flapping and getting encouragement from both parents.

Unfortunately 2 of the chicks that hatched didn’t make it as they hatched a couple of days after the others so were a lot smaller and probably didn’t get quite enough food.  The 7 remaining are all looking very healthy and well looked after so fingers crossed for a successful fledging.

Remember you can watch this all live using our Live Webcams

9 chicks doing well

There are still 9 healthy chicks doing very well in Box 1. Both parents are bringing in a very nutritional diet to the young birds with varying sized caterpillars, bugs, insects and seeds. The female is now quite distinguishable from the male due to the fact she is looking very scruffy!

The young birds are now starting to open their eyes a bit more and also starting to preen feathers and flap wings which is a good sign. Looking at the dates we estimate they should fledge around Friday 27th/Saturday 28th. We will have all the cameras recording and you can follow it using our online webcams.

Eggs hatching

The eggs have started hatching in Box 1. It is quite hard to see how many have hatched yet but we think 6 have hatched and there are still 3 eggs left. Both Blue Tits have been busy today bringing in lots of food although the male doesn’t seem that confident feeding the babies and would rather pass the food to the female for her to do!

Check out the Live webcams to see for yourself! If you spot anything remember you can leave comments on these posts by registering to the site.

Few days to go

The female Blue Tit is still patiently sitting on her clutch of 9 eggs waiting for them to start hatching, which we reckon will be around the weekend. The male is frequently bringing in caterpillars and other insects as you can see in these pictures, which is a good sign for what is yet to come!

Still sitting

The female is very patiently sitting on her 9 eggs, regularly getting food brought into her by the male. Looking at the dates we estimate the eggs to start hatching in just under a weeks time so we will have the camera computer ready to record to catch all the action.

Don’t forget to check out the live webcams during the day to watch all the action from the nest. We currently don’t have the infrared lights working so there isn’t much to see at night! They will be back soon!

7 eggs and counting

This morning Mrs Blue Tit revealed 7 eggs in her nest. She has been sitting on the nest in the box for most of the day, leaving for short breaks every now and then. The male Blue Tit has been around in the garden and occasionally dropping in on the box with a present of food for the female. We will wait and see if any more eggs emerge tomorrow!

5 Eggs in Box 1`

Well after a mad couple of weeks, looking at the cameras this afternoon there are now 5 eggs in Box 1. This morning when looking at the cameras it didn’t look like there were any at all and we were wondering if we were going to get any eggs but they had obviously just been covered very well!

Pictures and video clips will be coming soon when the recording computer is fully up and running. In the mean time, take a look at the live webcams which are running 24/7.

Frantic nest building

After abandoning box 3, the pair of blue tits have decided that they actually prefer box 1 and have started to build a nest again! They were originally building in box 1 but stopped and moved to box 3. Now back in box 1 the nest is well underway with lots of material being brought in all day yesterday and today has seen some softer feathers and other bits.

We have put Box 1 cameras back on the webcams for you to watch at home now the box is being used again!

Progress in Box 1?

Well yesterday there was evidence that nest building had started but today the box is more or less empty again! The pair of Blue Tits have been in and out this morning pulling pieces out and then just dropping them on the floor below the box. They go through this ritual every year so we will see what happens although they seem a little later than normal to be starting now.

Nest Building Started

Nest building has started in Box 1 with one of the Blue Tits bringing in lots of nesting material. It doesn’t stay for long as it gets sorted and then taken out again! This morning there was the basis of a nest in the bottom of the box but now there is only a few bits and pieces!

Looking back at the diaries from previous years they pair seem to be at a similar stage so fingers crossed for a good year in Box 1!