A NEW CHAPTER

And so after the great tit chicks fledged and the parents to the eight youngsters to explore the countryside around our house, we're left with an empty nestbox and the hope that the youngsters make it through the perils life will throw at them.

In the meantime my partner, Sarah, has now chosen to brighten our garden with her annual window box and hanging baskets display.

Every year she produces wonderful arrangements of colourful flowers brightening up our garden - you can see an example of this with one of my images on the main blog page.

This year she's had a little help from our daughter, Poppy, in the form of pointing and some early stage speaking - which doesn't make sense.

So the next chapter of this blog will feature the every growing hanging baskets and window box, along with the various plants, vegetables and fruit we have growing in the garden.

I'll be keeping an eye out on other wildlife, including a second brood for the blackbirds next door and the flocks of goldfinches in the surrounding fields.

To begin below is a picture of the hanging baskets and window box just minutes after they've been planted out.

EMPTY NEST AS CHICKS FLEDGE

This day had been coming for a while, but it seems only yesterday when I got excited about seeing the first great tit eggs laid.

In just 40 days the female has laid eight eggs, incubated them and with the help of the male, raised eight healthy chicks to fledging. A remarkable achievement and one I was privileged to witness through the nestbox camera.

The activity inside a nest, den or lair as wildlife brings up their young was rarely seen by anyone, but now thanks to tiny cameras and extensive digital equipment, it is available to those of us who choose to witness a wonderful part of the circle of life.

I watched the great tit chicks from 5.30am yesterday morning, but still missed the first two fledging. I could see them in the nearby trees and hear the adults encouraging the others to leave the nest.

Three more made it out, before another fledged as I got into my car. One landed on next door's outside wall before joining the family in the trees.

Below is a series of images taken from 6.00am during the fledging. The final image is of the chick clinging to next door's house - it's just above the white brick in the centre of the screen.

When I returned home from work in the evening the nestbox was empty and I contemplated another 10 months with little activity.

But in a final twist I noticed last night a bird using the nestbox to roost (see below). I think it's one of the adult great tits, but I can only speculate as to why she it there.

My thinking is there's a possibility of a new brood, but I'd welcome people's opinions and expertise as I don't know.

I will of course check over the weekend and update my blog accordingly.

OK, TIME TO GO, NOW!

I'm beginning to think the great tit chicks are like modern day children; living at home for longer and longer, not wanting to live a comfortable life.

Tonight they showed unruly behaviour as 'mum' was constantly cleaning the nest and ushering them towards the exit.


Unfortunately the warm(ish) weather and hints from their parents couldn't get the chicks to shift.

Will the fledge tomorrow? I'll be up earlier than usual to find out and hopefully see a fledging, if it indeed does happen!

TOO WINDY TO FLEDGE?

The great tit chicks are still in the nestbox, despite often standing on top of each other peering out of the hole.

The weather today has been windy and with wet and very windy promised for tomorrow, I suspect it won't be the best day to fledge.

Perhaps they will wait until Tuesday, but my guess on when the fledging will take place has not been exactly accurate, so I'll now adopt a 'see what happens' attitude.

The parents are still bringing in lots of food and I've noticed more and more green caterpillars being brought which makes me think there's plenty of them.

I'm hoping the chicks will wait til I get home before fledging! Come back tomorrow night to see if they d0.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Two days after I thought the great tit chicks would fledge, they are still in the nest, almost bursting out of the entrance hole.

Yesterday (Friday) the chicks were once again very active early in the morning (see video) but the weather doesn't seem quite right for the to fledge. Either that or a comfy home with food brought by a waiter and waitress (mum and dad) is too good to leave.

The most amusing time is at night when the mother great tit tries to keep the chicks warm be lying on top of them, although she's merely balancing on their heads! (see below pic)

And so with a warm sunny morning I was expecting the chicks to fledge today, so took this picture (below) in case it was the last chance.

But as I spent time in the garden it became clear that the parents were continually feeding the chicks, who seemed quite content to be fed while enjoying the May sunshine peering into the nestbox.

I left them for most of the day, due to various circumstances, returning to find them being fed and tonight watch as they sleep on top of each other. Nine birds in a small nestbox does make amusing viewing.

Will this image be the same tomorrow or will it empty. Surely they must fledge but with a cooler, fresher day and wet and windy weather on Monday, could they stay put for a few more days? Stay tuned.

PREENING FEATHERS

The chicks are growing by the minute and are now pushing each other around the nestbox as they stretch their feathers and legs.

The good news is all eight chicks have so far made it, although if they all make it to next year, it'll be a miracle such is the force of mother nature.

They'll be fledging soon, which is both sad and rewarding. Sad because the while family has provided great entertainment, but rewarding because it's good to know my efforts in providing a suitable home has helped the parent great tits to raise a family.

The insight, we all have gained, into one of the UK's most popular garden birds during the last few months has been excellent and a privilege that the great tits have let us do it.

The camera has taken a bit of a battering and the viewing angle has changed a few times, particularly since the nest was built, but the live footage has been the most popular channel on our TV recently.

Even my ten month old daughter waves at 'the birdies' every time she comes into the lounge and looks at the TV; she even tries to touch the chicks as they move and shouts at the adults when they come in to the nest!

Once the chicks fledge I'm hoping the parents come back soon to raise another brood. I'll reflect on this breeding season once the chicks are gone, but this year could see a huge rise in chicks raised by birds as the first ones appeared at least two weeks earlier than last year.

I'm hoping to film the fledging but here's a video of the chicks being fed tonight.

WING STRETCHING

It's been a few days since I last updated this blog, but a stomach bug has affected the adults in our house, meaning most of my time has been sent either being ill or playing nurse!

The good news is the bug has finished its work and the even better news is the great tit chicks are bursting out of the nest.

Below are images that show how big the chicks have grown since Friday night. But first the video taken from today showing just how much of the nest the chicks have taken up.

Despite the damp and cool weather the parents have done very well and although I can't tell if all eight chicks have survived, I'm hoping when they fledge in the next few days to find out.

Saturday 14th May 8.00am

Saturday 14th May 8.00pm

Sunday 15th May 8.00am

Sunday 15th May 8.00pm

Tuesday 17th May 6.00pm