Saturday 25 November 2017

THE ANNUAL NEST BOX CLEAN OUT

It’s the time of year when the seven nest boxes in the garden are cleaned in preparation for any winter roosting, and ahead of the breeding season next year.

This exercise also gives an opportunity to see exactly what has been constructed, in which nest boxes (only two have cameras) and what evidence can be found to suggest which birds occupied them.

As per usual the original nest box was occupied by blue tits (because they were seen fledging), and no leftover eggs or chicks were found, meaning all eggs successfully hatched and all chicks fledged.



In the other three single nest boxes, there hadn’t been any nesting carried out. Two are open fronted and are located in now dense honeysuckle and ivy.

The other has a camera and this has seemingly put any birds off nesting in there this year – however it’s the first year it was up so fingers crossed for 2018.

In the triple next box, all sections had nests. One was definitely used by house sparrows, however the other two had similar nests, but one more clue was a bit puzzling.

Two of the nests each had one egg, which appear to be blue tit eggs, as you can see below.



This leads to three potential theories.

1 – The house sparrows only occupied one box and blue tits nested in the other two – presumably after the house sparrows
2 – Blue tits nested on one box, laid an egg were put off by the house sparrows so moved next door, laid an egg, but moved out because of the house sparrows
3 – The blue tits nested after the house sparrows left, and either successfully fledged (with one egg being dud in each box) or parent(s) were killed by local cats/birds of prey


However, we’ll never know and can only hope that we’ll get to see some of this year’s fledglings back in the garden next year.

Tuesday 14 November 2017

WINTER IS ON ITS WAY, AS AUTUMNAL FROSTS ARRIVE

The garden has already seen a couple of frosts this year, but the influx of birds has yet to appear.

The garden feeders are being utilised, mainly by a few blue tits, the odd robin and great tits. Other birds are appearing infrequently.

One exciting development recently has been the appearance of a male sparrowhawk.

It was spotted on top of an outbuilding next to the house, and it appeared to be gathering itself after a failed hunt.

It look inexperienced so likely one that was born this year, but there’s hope in the house that it’ll keep making appearances in the future.

Of course that might mean negative news for the smaller garden birds, however it does mean there is a depth to the food chain in the area, with the top predator not being cats!

The next job in the garden is to clean out the nest boxes and make them ready for winter roosting. Checking the cameras are still operating will also be part of the process.

The flora in the garden has gained a new lease of live, with a large lily flowering, along with the rose bush.

The rose bush flowered in every month last year, and has done the same this year, proving it can withstand the rigours of all seasons.

It also means there’s a food source for any insects still hanging around before winter, and for those that appear early in spring on warmer days.


Once again the signs of lack of food in the surrounding countryside is likely to be signalled by the arrival of long tailed tits at the garden feeders, although there’s sadly little hope for any waxwings, redwings or other winter visitors given the history of not appearing.