Take Off

A record shot.

When we left home late Saturday morning the male great tit was (as usual) very active, and the bird box noisy with hungry chicks. Some of his behaviour seemed a little different. When we returned late Sunday afternoon all was quiet, it seemed the chicks must have fledged and taken off whilst we were away.

This morning I took off the front of the box, to reveal the empty nest. It’s pretty messy inside, and an eco system for all sorts of little creatures. It’s not only been a nesting site for great tits these last few months, but also a roosting site for blue tits. No wonder it’s a messy home.

We have had a nest box here for 20 years, and it’s been used most years, usually by great tits, very exceptionally by blue tits. As usual, I’ll give it a good clean out in the autumn.