Maternity Ward

[Daisy]

Plant, how lovely. You must enjoy watching their comings and goings.

One year I remember following video of a blue tit family. The camera was inside the nest box, and it was fascinating to watch it in real time.

[Clover]

It’ll be lovely to see inside the nest when all the residents have gone. I’m always amazed as to how the birds make such intricate and delicate nests with just their beaks.

[Oma]

We leave Storms fur out for the birds ,
DD has a mesh bag she puts it in by the bird boxes she watches them pulling bits out and taking it to their nests.
We have even seen squirrels take the fur in our garden.

[Daisy]

Oma, I hang something in the garden full of "useful" nest building materials, mostly donated by Eva!

[Daisy]

Update from the Maternity Ward:

It's impossible to see inside the nest without getting too close so we're not sure what is happening, but Dad seems to have disappeared. Mum was mostly on the nest, but now she's in and out all day long. I hope that means she has eggs and they've hatched. I was hanging washing out this morning and she flew in and out several times, her little wings must be worn out!

I've tried to listen out for sounds of chirping, but there is noise from several other nests nearby and I can't tell if she has demanding chicks or not.

If Dad turns up when all the hard work is done thinking they should have another brood, I'll have words with him!

I'm disappointed I haven't had a chance to get a photo yet.

[Daisy]

Good news from the Maternity Ward. This evening OH saw the hen on the lawn with 3 chicks. He called me but by the time I got there they had gone. Hopefully I'll see them tomorrow and try to get a picture.

There's still no sign of Dad though.

[Oma]

Oh that's exciting news Daisy ,
I hope you manage to get pictures,
When they have flown the nest will you leave it there for next year?

[Daisy]

Oma, apparently blackbirds can raise more than one brood a season, but I think we'll give it a bit of time and then remove the nest. We can't use the summerhouse at present and there are twigs and leaves scattered everywhere, plus we need to paint inside this year. I'd got plans to re-do it for the summer!

[Gemini]

Following

[Daisy]

It's all quiet in the maternity ward this morning. I hope they are all ok.

[Oma]

Probably the thunder and rain keeping them in Daisy😁

[Daisy]

A couple of days ago I saw Mum with a chick. I don't know whether the other two were around, or not, but I've since seen Mum on her own, so maybe the chicks have left home. I hope that's the case, but we've got quite a lot of magpies around here and they take young birds.

All seems very quiet on the maternity ward, and we need to use the summerhouse to store a spare awning for the caravan. We're going to sell it but haven't got round to it yet, so it will have to go in there while we're away. I went in very slowly and quietly this afternoon, and I think the nest has been abandoned.

[Oma]

I hope they flew the nest safely Daisy ,
Magpies are bullies ,
We get quite a few chasing the little birds away.

[Daisy]

Oma, I hope you're right. OH went in to look today and there is one egg in the nest. He didn't check to see if it was warm or not, but Mum hasn't been seen for a couple of days.