Box1
is still attracting some interest from a great tit. This picture is
from Sunday 26th March ... 
... and these two from two days later. Another great tit brood would be nice. I think great tits nest slightly later blue tits so there is hope for us yet!
Whether
it was as a result of the great tit's interest, or just a coincidence, but a
minute or so after the picture on the right, a bluetit came to the nest box.
This
bird then entered the box and took a great interest in the camera at the top
of the box. It visited once more that day at just after 11am but that
was all.
Although
progress in box2 is still slow, it is more encouraging. Kate was still
taking almost as much out of the box as she was bringing in, but not quite.
This shot was taken on 28th March.
She
often seems to return with some nesting material she has removed and take it
back in again. This picture was taken a couple of minutes after the
one above and I can well imagine she still has hold of the same piece of
nesting material!
This
is the next day and she is still doing the same thing!
However,
you can just about see that the overall affect of this coming and going is
positive. This was the state of the box on Wednesday 29th March.
But
on Friday 31st March, it doesn't look any fuller. Kate is still at it
though so we shall all have to be patient!
On
1st April, the box looks a little fuller. Ben (the male - Ben and Kate
make a fine pair!) is inside when Kate comes back to the nest box.
Ben
leaves immediately and Kate celebrates with a nesting wriggle. It's
business as usual no doubt!