Overview

Note 1.  After the first 8 eggs had been laid, a fight over possession of the nest took place.  Fresh nesting material was brought in and nearly 3 weeks later the new hen started laying.  By the time that a further 3 eggs had been laid the original clutch had resurfaced and she probably thought she had laid all 11!  Six eggs eventually hatched and five chicks fledged.

Note 2.  Three chicks were taken from the nest box by a great spotted woodpecker shortly before they fledged.

Note 3. The female disappeared shortly after she had completed the nest.  The male continued to call her and bring food to the nest for her for over two weeks.

Note 4.  A great tit pair occupied Box1 these years.  Incubation and fledging times differ little from those of bluetits.

Note 5. Three days after hatching, all the chicks in this box were dead.  How they died is not known for certain, but is believed to be due to lack of food..

Note 6.  This nest was deserted for unknown reasons early on 1st May.

Note 7.  This nest was started by a bluetit but deserted before the nest was completed or eggs laid.  The nest box was subsequently taken over by a great tit who started adding more material on 7th May.  The rest of the dates relate to the great tit's occupancy.

Note 8.  After a couple of days, the male great tit seemed to lose interest in bringing food to the nest.  He only visited infrequently and on the third day the chicks started dying.  By the morning of the fifth day, all the chicks were dead.