Bluetits

[Lonnie]

Hi all, Just wanted to share this with you, I was in the garden earlier today, glanced up at the nesting box, and saw one of the young having a peek at the outside world, then one of the parents came down and pushed it back in. A marvellous thing to see, they are obviously getting ready to fly. My only worry is that if one of them falls to the ground, we have a family of Crows nesting at the back, but thats nature.

[Pressgang1]

Aww that is adorable! Young bluetits are so cute, espacially when they fledge and sit on a branch in a line calling for food.

[spudqueen]

It's always a real treat to see youngsters fly for the first time. A couple of years ago my neighbour had a whole family of bluetit fledglings sitting on her washing line whilst one of the parents showed them the peanut feeder. She was so thrilled.

[Thunderbird+]

Hi Lonnie, I was over at my mums today and saw a blue tit/s making frequent visits with caterpillers to the nest box, while I was working in the garden, it sounded like a big brood being fed. Lots of preditors around there too, hopefully some of the chicks will make it through, as the saying go's "nature in the raw is seldom mild"

[Lonnie]

These answers are terrific, thanks, Today, I was standing almost underneath it, and could see the young peering out very clearly, a parent appeared, and perched on the entrance, feeding it, it seemed to know I didn't pose a threat, what a thrill to see nature working at close hand.

[raysparx]

Hi lonnie, that must have been lovely to see,it is so relaxing sometimes just to sit back and enjoy being alive,we are blessed with so many wonderful things around us,but sometimes we do not see, My old grandad used to say to me "take the time to smell the roses" and I used to think,what is he on about,now I am in my late fifties I appreciate every moment,mother nature is a truly amazing thing,I regard it as my religion,Take care Lonnie,love to your daughter,hope she is well, Ray

[Lonnie]

Hi Ray, thanks for that lovely answer, your words are so true, and regarding my daughter, at least once a day, when I kiss or hug her, I always tell her, 'and this ones from Ray',

[raysparx]

Thank you Lonnie,you are a very generous man,I often think of you,and as I said to you before special people like your daughter,are sent to special people so that they recieve the love and care they deserve,I hope things are going well for you,and thank you once again that is a very nice and thoughtful gesture by you,take care, Ray

[WendyS]

Hi Lonnie, How exciting for you! Sounds as if they must be pretty ready to leavethe nest. It's so exciting if you can see it happen. They flutter around all of the place twittering and chirping and look like little fluffy blue jewels.

Are you watching the two families of blue tits on Springwatch? BBC2 every evening, 8 p.m. (or will you be hogging the remote control tonight to watch the England game ???)

[Lonnie]

Hi Wendy, it is exciting, isn't it, i'm out there as much as I can at the moment, i'm hoping they are still there tomorrow,

As far as Football and Springwatch are concerned, i'm going to watch the football, and tape Springwatch, its a facinating programme, and wouldn't want to miss it.

[shaneystar2]

How lovely ..I was just reading the post at the top and then saw yours Lonnie. Unfortunately I don't have any bluetits nesting in my garden although I do have a couple of pairs of blackbirds and a multitude of sparrows.I do see the odd bluetit flitting about though.
My brother has nestboxes up and had a family nesting in in a box and then didn't see the parents for a while. When he looked this morning he found the nest had been abandoned and there were twelve dead fledglings in it . He was most upset ! He said the parents probably gave up trying to feed so many little ones in spite of all the food he puts out. I wonder if this dreadful weather we are having had an effect and they couldn't find enough to feed such a large family. Such a shame.

[Lonnie]

Hi shaneystar2, thats always a shame when that happens, its possible that it may well be as you brother says, I had the same thing a couple of years ago, and put it down to one of the parents being killed, prey etc, if that happens, the other abandons the nest, could of course be either.

Blackbirds and Sparrows are real characters aren't they, my neighbour has a male blackbird waits at his backdoor at seven every morning for some food, and if he's late, it perches on his window looking in for him. magic.

[shaneystar2]

Yes I suppose that is a possibilty Lonnie..my bro does have a cat that frequents his garden.. but thats how it goes. He did say that perhaps the cat had got hold of one of them although the nest boxes are on a wall with nowhere for a cat to get a grip really .
The blackbirds are a delight though. Mine are always hanging around by the back door in the mornings looking for their raisins .I love to hear them singing.
In Germany they are known as Regenvogel.(rainbirds). and my dear old F-I-L used to say that as soon as you hear them kicking up a stink then rain is on the way.
He was usually right !!