The images below aren't the easiest to view but it reflects what happens in nature every day, month and year.
I had noticed that the great tits were not around very much for the last week or so, despite me recently seeing one of the parents going in to the nestbox with a caterpillar in beak.
After hearing the story of a friend who had watched from their nestbox camera as eight great tit chicks straved to death during April and early May, I resolved to check the nestbox after watching for parental activity over the weekend.
With little or no great tit activity anywhere near the nestbox, I opened it up and found the eight tiny fledglings hadn't made it passed a couple of days old.
The unusually cool and wet weather had obviously led to a lack of relevant food for the chicks and their sad demise. I presume this has happened to many great tit and other small bird families across the UK, which makes me wonder if this breeding season will be a poor one.
In positive news I've noticed a blue tit nest in a tiny crevice in the wall of a small disused building at the back of our house. The crevice is so tight the parents have to literally squeeze out each time they have fed their chicks.
I think they'll fledge in the next week as they're very vocal when the parents bring food.
The robins have not been seen for a while, which makes me think the chicks are all out and the family has gone off to explore the countryside.
Activity has been frantic from the house and tree sparrows, as they spend lots of time in the rose hedge and the garden borders. I'm still unsure where they're nesting, but it must be close.
The blackbirds are still around and this week have been dominating the airwaves, especially at dusk, as the males use prominent spots like telegraph poles to littering the wind with lovely song.
It certainly makes a change from the constant chiffchaff tunes during the day.
Finally an unusual visitor came to the garden this week, a great spotted woodpecker, although he didn't stay around too long. Perhaps he'll be back.
More news this weekend.
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