Yes, my blue tits left their box today! 4 in all, would have been 5 but the cat brought me a present first thing this morning. She is firmly locked inside now. :(
It has been a great couple of hours watching them leave one by one, some make it to a bush, others kind of plummet gracefully to the ground with their stubby little wings going 19 to the dozen.
I had to come in because after about an hour, this little fellow set up his temporary home about 6 feet away from me, and mum would not visit to feed him.
Later, I watched him climb the trellis to the top of the fence, sit there a while and fly UPWARDS into a small tree. By Jove, I think he's got it!
They are getting more confident after their first few stumbles around the garden. On cat patrol now. Brilliant day!!!
------------- The drinking will continue till the economy improves
107.7 The Bone rocks my tent (earphones after 10pm)
We have had all sorts in the garden today. Woodpeckers, and a kestrel just popped in, obviously hearing all the calls of the young.
There was one final chick still in the box. I could see he was much smaller than the others as he poked his head out. Mum returned with some food, and he hopped out onto the perch. Shortly after she left, he fell.
He does not have the flying ability of the others, so after a while, I picked him up and perched him where he is pictured below.
He is calling but neither parent is returning to him. I will sit and watch a while from a distance as this little fella is far from ready to leave the box. I may shove him back in later if he shows no signs of knowing what to do and the parents do not return.
Better get the mealworms ready. Luckily I just bought some more...
------------- The drinking will continue till the economy improves
107.7 The Bone rocks my tent (earphones after 10pm)
He fell again and landed in a bush below the perch. He can't even navigate branches yet, and has no power in his wings. He is way too small to be out and about. He is now back in the box, calling and parents have found him and are feeding him.
He needs a couple more days of parental care and a bit more strength. I will keep an eye on this little one.
------------- The drinking will continue till the economy improves
107.7 The Bone rocks my tent (earphones after 10pm)
Aw that's so lovely and so nice you helped the tiny bird. We put a box on the trunk of our monkey puzzle tree and had high hopes, then a family of magpies nested in the same tree and used the box to hop on to to get up into tree, so I actually began hoping that no little birds would nest in it as they would surely end up in the magpies belly at some point! In the end the magpies managed to knock it off the tree with all their hopping, but as the magpies roam both front and back gardens not right to relocate it which is a shame for the kids.
We've been watching our great tit nest since Easter as we have a tiny camera inside it, mum laid 8 eggs and I saw 5 actually hatch, it was fabulous being able to watch the babies being born and fed with tiny bits of maggot then whole maggots and caterpillars, flies, spiders etc. We lost 4 chicks, horrible seeing them just laid there then one day they'd all gone, I supposed the parents took them away. We had 2 days in the caravan whit week and expected them to be gone when we got back as by then they were very active and lots of wing flapping going on but no, we still had 3 left. Mum was doing her best for 2 days to entice them outside to no avail even with with food in her mouth. We had to shop and when we got back after 2 hours they'd gone, we were gutted after watching them since Easter, we've had 3 broods and not seen one of them fledge yet, next year perhaps.
Great photos by the way.
Jim
------------- Easter-York caravan park
May CC Teasdale
Whit -Fields End Water
Summer-France
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Excuse title, my tits are out...
