After a spell of warmer weather the paired blue tits were seen mating outside the bird box on a number of occasions.Since then the birds have turned from a pair to one, presumably the male, who's been singing warning songs everytime I've been in the garden.
The obvious conclusion would be the female sitting on eggs in the nestbox and the male keeping her up-to-date with what's happening outside.
In the last couple of days the male has been seen taking mealworms (supplied by me) into the nextbox without the usual sound of chicks begging for food.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed the female is on eggs and hopefully will hear the sounds of chicks in the next couple of weeks.
Which is a positive of the holiday to Mexico (due to be taken on Saturday) has been cancelled. Fingers crossed all this will lead to me seeing the chicks fledge.
The recent weather hasn't been exactly May-like (my greenhouse has fallen in the winds) but a new batch of mealworms has arrived and I'm ready to help feed any chicks.
Talking of chicks it seems with the variety of birds arriving and taking away beakfuls of mealworms that a number of chicks are in the surrounding buildings and countryside.
Pairs of robins, blackbirds and great tits and indulged in the feast, with goldfinches, tree sparrows and dunnocks utilising either the worm handout or peanuts.
With the odd visit from woodpigeons, house sparrows, chaffinches, pied wagtails, magpies, a greater-spotted woodpecker, wrens and a pair of song thrushes, the garden is full of life.
The usual swallows are performing aerobatic sorties catching flying insects and nesting again in the small barns behind the house, while long-tailed tits have lengthened the time between their family visits.
Oh - it melts your heart! I am impressed andi inspired by your dedication.
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