Blue Tits Nest Building.

For several days we have heard the Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) constantly tapping inside the nest box situated on the rear of the garden shed. This usually indicates that a pair have decided to set up home again and are either making sure that the structure is sound or are pressing nesting material into the base. This box has been used almost annually by Blue Tits for over 9 years and only once by the larger Great Tit (Parus major). Pairs usually persist from year to year when both partners survive and are basically monogamous with a low incidence of simultaneous bigamy in optimal habitats. I have seen at least one other individual, possibly another pair, feeding in the garden up until yesterday when one individual was promptly chased away by the territory owner.  

While gardening today I noticed that at least one of the pair was carrying nesting material and sometimes perched briefly in the Lilac before entering the nest box so I took the opportunity late this afternoon to grab the camera and park myself on a garden chair about 15 feet away and wait for some possible action.

It wasn't too long before one appeared (difficult to tell whether it is the male or female) and landed directly on the nest box plate .......

 ... then pushed its head into the hole, still flapping to maintain momentum, before retracting briefly.

 A momentary pause and then disappeared  inside.

The nest pad inside the box is often 3 to 4 inches deep. It is typically made up of moss, probably scavenged from a nearby garden (my small lawn has plenty, so I'm not sure why they are not using that!) mixed with together with pieces of dead grass and straw. The nest cup will be lined with dry grass, hair, wool and some feathers in readiness for egg laying that will take place during April. If successful there will be one brood and whilst the clutch can vary from 2 to a 18 but providing the location and food source of insects and spiders is adequate usually averages 10 to 12 with incubation taking 13 to 16 days. In a poor year the clutch has been a low as 5 and in recent years I have often discovered that some chicks have not survived to the fledgling stage so we will have to wait patiently for this years outcome.

This whole sequence took only 3 seconds and whilst I waited patiently for another 10 minutes was not repeated so I felt very fortunate to have grabbed these few postable shots. [All taken at F8; 1/200 - 1/250; ISO 800; 210mm and cropped.]   FAB.

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