h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Thanks Nigel, the Coal Tits were back nest building this morning so really pleased as the second day and always a worry they might be put of new nestbox.
I am really pleased as at only £10 it will last hopefully 10 years or more and give the birds and me a lot of pleasure, which it has already.
You have reminded me to mark on calendar on October 1st to clean out and wash the nestbox as I understand they can be used for a winter roosting place, presumably to keep warm and dry, which would be nice as might see some birds again then!

Quite a good chance I would think SS.

Websailor

I had an interesting hour last night observing what was presumably the male Coal Tit. I went there just to see if they were still around and noticed the male standing on the telephone wire about 15 feet from nest singing loudly. Every 5 mins or so it flew really close to nestbox in a fluttering halfcircle flight and back to wire to sing loudly again. I am pretty sure it ws guarding its new area around new nestbox and saying I am here. I think, it might even have even been a Websailor article, that they sing at night to say I am here and in morning to say I am still alive, this is my patch!
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I was interested to see whether it slept in box overnight being male, but by 8.20pm it was dark and the Bats were then flying around and a fluttering and circling small Coal Tit and a bat circling look very much alike. I suspect it didn't sleep in nest but that is just guess work!

That is interesting, I started to look at Coal Tit nest box around 7.15pm yesterday and found the male already on guard. I went there about 7pm today and both arrived and female went straight in nest while male stood in same place more or less as yesterday and took up guard.
I didn't know yesterday but have now become aware the female is in nest for certain, which is nice.

I just looked and breeding starts mid April, so it looks as if you might be in luck She sits, he feeds. Once they have youngsters they both feed them so you should be able to tell from what what is happening.

Keep us posted.

Websailor

For observing the new nestbox I am very lucky that as Coal Tits are not a common bird here I am likely to only see the 2 in the mating pair.
Few other birds go in the exact area where box is so leave the Coal Tits alone. The area where the box is, on side of a small block of flats and above a brick outhouse, is quiet and peaceful most of time and above all has a clear view for me allowing good observation. The telephone wire the male always stands on gives me a good view too. It also gives the bird a good view as watched it watch a car drive on entrance road underneath it and it didn't flinch which is good!
All in all I am very lucky, a Songthrush was above in bush above Coal Tit and the female G S Woodpecker was at tree top pecking gently and feeding. Quite a lovely sight in a very small area in an ordinary backgarden!

You are lucky! A Song thrush We haven't seen one for ages.

Websailor

SS I'm sure I'm not the only one that would like to see some pic's from you , can't you get some up without letting on where you are or who you are , that nest box with birds for instance would be nice I'm sure

I'd love to see some pics too SS. I've only seen a singular Coal tit recently.

Saw my first ladybird of the year in the garden today

I haven't seen a Ladybird yet and sadly no Grey Tits today, I hope they are both OK, I heard him singing other nights, not tonight though!

I would love to see some pix too SS. I use Flicker which is very easy to use and free if you choose. Don't know if you have a dig.camera though.

Websailor

Sadly, I haven't seen the Coal Tit pair for several days so really don't think I will ever see them again for whatever reason. I have been checking every now and then and the male hasn't been on guard for several nights now.

Oh, that's a shame. Keep checking though, you never know.

Websailor

I shall keep an eye out for their possible still return or another creaure taking nest over, which might not even be a bird, I saw a mouse in my garden once run like, well a mouse, acrose the driveway.
I really am being silly as have GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS nesting just 20 feet from new nest box!! They seem to spend most of day just sitting in nest, the male mainly just watching out of entrance litterally at world go by when cars leave. Both feed around the tree stump they have made nest in so seem ok for food, not sure it would be enough for young if they have to search for food and feed them too.

Okay, slap me down with a wet fish! I just looked out of window and happened to glance at feeder and have 2 rare visitors a Blue Tit and Coal Tit. The Coal Tit flew straight in nest so obviously is one of the pair! I am so pleased as it is back and has found the feeder to feed itself while breeding and being able to feed potential mum while in nest. Strangely I saw it just as I posted last post, very odd.
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Right the feeders are Squirell proof but not cleverness proof. The Blue Tits was doing a one for me, ten for floor routine and most fell on floor or stopped on angled base so Squirell got its tounge through bars and grabed bird feed, bless. At one point to get to other side it went through the holder of feeder and thought it would get stuck, blimey.

The woodpecker may be sitting on eggs SS. The activity will really start when they hatch. Oh, I do hope they do have eggs. So exciting. lad your coal tit is back too.

Websailor

Just been sitting in garden without binos but can see Pecker and it has been in entrance but also out pecking for food on tree trunk(sp?).
I think, but not certain, it may have been feeding a bird inside, I expect it was the female adult as very early for young yet I would think.

Talking of squirrels as you were *over there* I saw 3 chasing each other today In the cemetary actually, a pretty quiet safe place for wildlife I suppose.

Yep they are, I often pop into the village cemetary if on holiday as they are good for wildlife, infact one had a notice about a wildlife tour for that very reason. All the grass, trees and being empty of people most of time helps. Birds like to pearch on gravestones I have found. I saw my first ever grass snake in one, aparantly they like the damp grass!

Today I solved bit of a yuk riddle.
Last year I saw a Magpie in my back garden with horrible massive white headed Tics which I thought it must have got from hopping around in the long grass in local wooded park. Today I saw a Magpie(and Jackdaws) doing mutually beneficial grooming to Deer to remove Deer Tics, which I suspect is how the Magpie ended up with Tics last year. The Deer of course didn't mind the grooming as cleared their skin of all sorts of nasties, including Deer Tics.
A bit yuk though....