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Latest pictures | |
Sun 09Aug09 | Blackbirds active over the past month, the male only recently stopped singing. This morning there was a newly fledged blackbird trapped under a bench among the pots and wire. Caught it, speckled breast, no tail, wispy feathers over the eyes. Have not found the nest but the chick has been out no more than a day or two. |
Another sad day for the robins. Late yesterday the chick was not active for minutes at a time, at first light it is not moving and the robins remove it. In a relatively exposed position, we tried to improvise some shade but clearly not enough in higher than average temperatures. Not certain why they died but high temperatures (32C) and dehydration are likely. | |
Two chicks active last night. This morning only one moving after early rain, the dead one was removed just before 07:00. | |
This morning only two chicks. Yesterday evening a cat got close, probably not the cause but clamp spike strips to the window cill and move bench away. | |
Another hot sunny day. By 6:30 it looks as if one chick is not moving. By 08;00 we have only three. | |
Both parents feeding and shading the chicks on another hot sunny day. | |
Warm sunny day for the new nestlings. | |
By first light, two eggs have hatched. Third hatches around 09:45, the fourth about 15:15. | |
Last egg laid Sun 14th, so thirteen days incubation complete and still counting. | |
Still waiting. | |
Restless on the nest. Is hatching close? | |
Eleven days. Last year in colder weather the robins hatched after fourteen days (last egg laid to hatching). | |
Another sunny, warm day. | |
Nine days. | |
Incubating on the longest day. | |
Seventh day. | |
Sunny day but windy. | |
Five days on the Robin nest. | |
Start of another sunny day on the nest. | |
Third day on four eggs. | |
Starting second day sitting on all four eggs? | |
Fourth egg laid, appears to be on nest nearly all day. | |
Three eggs before 08:30 and she appears to be sitting on them. | |
The camera had been removed from the robin box but now returned and we have two eggs. These have been laid in a completely new nest cup built over the old nest. | |
Mon 06Jun09 | Young robins seen in the garden, the pair have clearly been successful somewhere close. The robins have also been visiting the old box, they appear to be adding nest material, building over the old nest complete with eggs. The way the male has continued to visit the feeding stations including the meal worms may suggest that only the female is new but we have no way of knowing for sure. |
Mon 01Jun09 | The male Robin was around and singing for weeks, assumed to be widowed. In the past week or so we noticed there were two robins. A new female or a pair moved from elsewhere? |
May09 | Blackbirds around and probably nesting next door. Wren singing and collecting food, nest not found, probably well hidden. |
No blue tits caught on camera, although dark pictures suggest a bird may be blocking the hole. Last year there was nest material in the box by now, so unlikely that it will be used this year. Robin box is undisturbed with the five abandoned eggs although the male is around and feeding. Blackbirds are behaving as if they have a nest but not found and probably outside this garden. | |
Watching the Blue tit box today. | |
Not good. The female Robin was there on the eggs at 18:30 as it got dark yesterday but no sign of her this morning. There is a brief box visit from the male duing the day, but the eggs are untouched. | |
Eight days in the nest. | |
Ground frost to start the day but warming quickly. | |
Warm and sunny again. | |
Fifth day on the nest. | |
Another warm sunny morning. | |
Robin sitting on another sunny day. | |
Second full day on the Robin nest. | |
Robin on the nest apart from short breaks in bright sun, five eggs it seems and incubation starts. | |
On the nest from first light. Off for five minutes, still four eggs, then back on the nest. First full day of incubation? No, five eggs at 10:00. | |
A little later for the fourth egg, 08:40. On the nest for a couple of hours in the afternoon, starting incubation? | |
Third egg just before 08:00. | |
Frosty morning with another early Robin visit. Second egg when she leaves at 07:50. | |
Robin on nest from first light, egg visible 07:25. | |
Blue tit box clear, no visits captured yet but they are around the box. | |
Daily robin visits, no eggs yet. | |
Bright morning, Robin in first light. | |
Robin camera installed, nest already has a cup formed. Weather improved after a wet and cold January/early February. |