Our part-time residents

Meet the Blue Tits

Every year for the past six, this box has been occupied with a family of blue tits and each year all seemed to have fledged very successfully.  Each autumn/winter we clean the old nest out in readiness for the next spring.  Early this year Mrs Tit (or is it Mr, we're not really sure) visited as normal checking out the facilities.  We expected to see the usual comings and goings with twigs etc - but for some reason this year they didn't take up residence.  We can't understand why as we have not made any changes to the nest or surrounding area.  We have been disappointed as it is lovely to sit in the garden with a glass wine (when the weather permits us to) watching their comings and goings with the hope that we might catch the maiden flight of the chicks.  We'll be up the ladder again this autumn, chucking out the old stuff (if there is anything) making ready for next years potential residents.

We have also installed a new box, on another wall, hoping to encourage more families

You might like this little laugh!  Last autumn, M climbed the ladder as usual and we stripped out the old nest from the box to make way for the next years brood.  M then proceeded to admire Mr & Mrs Tits nest workmanship, how skilfully it was put together - before you knew it he was covered in fleas.  It was then a case of stripping off to his birthday suit in the garden at the back door and legging it to the shower! 
Understandably, we'll admire some elements of nature from a far this autumn.