Woodie Strikes Again!

A quick look at the outside of the nestbox this morning revealed that the male great spotted woodpecker has yet again been trying to make a hole - in the side of the nest box this time. The chicken wire may be preventing him getting right up to the box but it looks as though his beak can still reach the wood. Blue tits usually fledge 18 - 21 days after hatching which would mean they should leave the nest box around this weekend. Just hoping the woodie doesn't gain access before then.

Inside the nest box the 6 young blue tits are growing daily. They are starting to preen themselves and the three older ones are practising flying by fluttering round the nest box. One cause of concern is that the eldest four are much bigger than the youngest two who hatched one/two days later and the older ones seem to be outcompeting the younger ones for food.

The female wren is still busy taking food to young in the nest built in a hanging basket on the patio and there are still plenty of juvenile house sparrows being fed on the lawn.