9:43:21
Presumably, this is what it's all about - the first shot we have had of bluetits mating in
their nest box in 5
years' observations.
9:43:22
It lasts for all of 2 seconds!
9:43:23
A second later, the female departs. The male, poor thing, hasn't
properly recovered before she's away and gone.
Is it any surprise that bluetits resort to nest building - and nest dismantling - to pass the time before egg laying?
9:43:25
Once outside the female just hops up onto the roof of the nest box.
9:43:27
"So what was that all about then?"
You can see why we were confused. This bird really does have a wide white head band for a female. If you read last year's diary, you may remember we said that about Fantail then - but she disappeared once she had completed the nest, so this couldn't possibly be her - or could it?