BREAKTHROUGH

Two weeks and three days after the first eggs appeared, the great tits awoke this morning to six chicks!

I was very excited at 6.30am when I managed to see the chicks, who were minutes old.

The female was trying to feed them a spider, but it appeared to still be alive and was putting up a fight as the chicks struggled with their first feed.

To help the parents I have a supply of mealworms for them to feed the chicks, although I think there will be lots of caterpillars given the rain and humid weather.

The female is still incubating the final two eggs and keeping the chicks warm so glimpses of the chicks are few and far between.

But luckily not long after I looked this morning, I managed to capture this video. Enjoy until tomorrow's update.

A FLEDGING

Still no update on the great tit eggs, despite the female's best incubating skills and continued stay in the nestbox.

There has been good news today on the form of the blackbird chicks from an historical nest next door, fledging.

As the parents successfully brought up two broods last year, and possibly previous years, I'm hopeful of seeing another fledging of blackbird chicks later in the summer.

The bush isn't located in somewhere people would generally look for a nest as it's fairly small, low to the ground, borders the lane and it within 10 foot of the front door.

As the parents spend a lot of time in my garden, it was no surprise that the male blackbird feeding two of the youngsters first thing this morning and this evening when I arrived home.



The frog is still occupying the pond, although I'm not sure what he/she is doing. I'm sure it's too late for mating and frogspawn, although maybe it is resting after an exhausting mating in the nearby bigger pond.

More updates on Friday, when the anticipated rain could bring a bit of colour to the garden.

NO CRACKS YET

The female great tit is still incubating the eight eggs and there appears to be no change in her agitated behaviour; as if the eggs are overdue.

I've seen all eight eggs this evening and didn't see any cracks to indicate an imminent hatching.

If the eggs are hatching by Friday I fear for the would-be parents as it'll be nearly three weeks since they were laid.

In other news the frog appears to have taken up permanent residence in the pond, despite the water levels in the pond dropping rapidly in the continuing warm weather.

I'm hoping by the weekend, rain will refill the pond & also water the rest of the garden.

Here's hoping the morning will bring news of the first arrival.

ANY DAY NOW

I've been keeping a close eye on the nestbox over the weekend and the female appears to be getting very agitated while sitting on the eggs.

I expect she's like any expectant parent, eagerly looking forward to seeing her young, but also to spend a bit more time outside.

The eggs are turned over at regular intervals to ensure they all are at the right temperature - how she knows I'm not sure as there's no thermometer! The picture below was taken while the female had five minutes enjoying the good weather.


The male has been very attentive, bringing in food for the female and probably to see exactly what's going on.

It's been two weeks since the first four eggs were laid, so I'm tuning in every hour to make sure I don't miss that first chick. The incubation period is 13-15 days, so it can't be too long.

My mealworm supply is ready and waiting, so when the chicks hatch, the parents have a helping hand in the first crucial days.

I have noticed some caterpillars on surrounding trees, although can't tell if there are plenty to go around for all the birds who rely on them to feed their young.

I'm still concerned about the blue tits, as they appear to be setting up home elsewhere. There's still hope of them using another nestbox in my garden or even next door's hole in the wall, like last year.

Right I'm off to have another look, perhaps tomorrow will bring some positive news.

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

I've been enjoying the sunny weather by spending quality time with my daughter, something I don't have to often.

But as we've been in the garden lots, I've managed to keep an eye on the great tit nestbox.

The main activity in the second week of incubating has been watching the male bring food to the female.

She is spending much more time on the eggs and now rarely ventures out of the nestbox. On the one occasion I spotted her doing so I did count that eight eggs were still there.

I'm anticipating the hatching in the next 24-48 hours, although it could be another 4/5 days before all the eggs hatch, if they all do.

The mealworms are going down a treat with the robins, blackbirds and the male great tit, who is splitting them in half before feeding his mate.

My one worry is the blue tits. I've not seen any around the garden for a week and I've got the feeling they've decided to move on.

On the pond, I've not seen any more of the frog and no sign of frogspawn. The pond filling might begin this weekend.

More updates over the weekend when I hope to bring some news of a hatching or two!

JUMPING FOR JOY

Two news updates tonight as some people's Easter celebrations give way to that sick feeling from eating too much chocolate. I feel fine as my Easter diet has been mainly watching the great tit eggs.

The great tit female has spent much more time incubating the eggs, while the male is often seen 'on guard' in the trees near the nestbox.

It's interesting to see and hear the interaction between the pair, especially when anyone s outside in the garden. The male must be reassuring the female on the nest, giving her he confidence to keep the eggs warm.

I did witness a very interesting battle between the female and a mosquito type creature, all in the darkness of the nestbox. The video below shows what happened.

I don't think there are any more eggs so the total appears to be eight, fingers crossed they all hatch and survive to at least fledgling.

In other news, I was putting extra plants in the rockery when I noticed a pair of eyes looking at me from the pond.

A frog was half submerged and motionless, watching me attend to the surrounding rockery. t even allowed me to take two photographs.

I think it's a little late for new frogspawn, so wonder if it's a tadpole from last year visiting the place it grew up.

I'll be keeping an eye on the pond to see what develops, but don't expect it to be another place in my garden to produce new wildlife.

The below photos of the pond are taken with seconds of each. Can you spot the frog?

EIGHTH WONDER OF THE NESTBOX

Well wonders never cease! Certainly not in my camera nestbox, as the eighth egg made an appearance this morning.

It makes me wonder if a ninth will appear tomorrow; my money is on not, but given my recent betting tips I'm not hopeful of a win

The female has been attending to the incubating very well today, with lots of egg turning and turning herself in the nest - no wonder the nest looks and feels like a perfectly formed mug from a pottery wheel.


As the warm weather starts to fade I think the female will spend more time in the nestbox and incubating the eggs, as the due date looms ever closer.

If my calculations (and bird book) are correct, the first chick should put in an appearance on Bank Holiday Monday.

I'm keeping everything crossed that all the eggs produce chicks, but know that only half of the eggs are likely to hatch chicks that will still be with us next year.

Perhaps my mealworms will help improve that percentage and the local cats can stay away during fledgling.

More updates tomorrow, with video footage too.