Back in March when I was in Cornwall I bought a couple of nesting boxes to go in our woodland but didn't manage to get them put in place until April and have never noticed any activity around them at all - so it was with regret that I thought I'd have to wait a whole year to see some activity...
Well little did I know....
This morning I was out on my morning stroll with Lucy in our woodland and noticed that one of the new boxes had come off the tree during the storms last night and on closer inspection the screw holding the box to the tree had completely sheered off... still quite sleepy I picked up the box and got the fright of my life when I saw movement inside the box as it had fallen with the hole facing towards the ground. I left the box where I'd found it, took Lucy in for her breakfast and returned to the fallen box with a step ladder and new screws and a good screw driver!
On careful inspection there looked as if there was a complete family of young Great Tits inside as the parents were going berserk but my biggest concern is that by this point were not moving at all and I was very concerned that they were injured or even worse. But without wasting time I thought I'd no option but to fix the box back in place and take a back seat and watch.... which is what I did.
It was an exhilarating start to my day to watch both parents going in almost immediately and feeding the chicks as well as removing faecal sacs from the nest. I went to check on them this evening and all seems well - large amounts of high pitched cheeping from the nest so I'm guessing they were just keeping as still as possible out of fear and trepidation!
I wonder how long it will before they fledge?
Mummy and baby woodpeckers have been very present in our garden again today... she's been feeding them from the fat block on the bird table which certainly seems a favorite - it's wonderful to watch and just a shame that I'm limited to taking pictures through a window...
5 comments:
Wonderful story with the best ending. Doesn't it fill your heart with gladness! gail
Thanks Gail - it was a wonderful story and one that kept me going all day and still is - every time I go out into our garden and hear the cheeping which is getting louder now as they get bigger obviously - it's great to think of saving little lives - I love it! I wish I could say that I was having as much success with the tomatoes - Truckers Tavern I think it is germinated but no luck with any of the others - weather has been very mixed so will save them for next year as to start them off again now is going to be too late sadly... Are there any tricks with tomatoes in getting them to germinate? Take care Miranda x
What a heart warming tale and delightful residents of your new nest box. Lovely to have GS Woodies visiting you and bringing their young.
Hope you get to see the Great Tits fledge :D
Hi Miranda,
Great to see your baby woodpeckers. Its been a while since we have seen one in our garden. Nice photos too.
Hmmm... glad to hear those Great Tits are going to be ok. Well done for spotting the nestbox. You probably saved a few little Great Tits when doing so!
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Tricia - well it's been an exciting week and have just posted on the Great Tit progress... they fledged yesterday it would seem when I was out working - shame not to see but I'm delighted they're off and away!
Woodie family still visiting which is lovely... hope you're having a good weekend...
Well Joe as you'll read in my response to Tricia above the Great Tits have fledged and exciting news today on our swallow babies - see my latest posting! Enjoy your weekend...
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