This morning I checked most of my open nests either because they were due to hatch, had hatched or 1st egg date was unknown because I had found the nest when the eggs were being incubated. Wasn't a good start, a Wren at N4 is still at N4, a Blackbird was predated at egg stage, two Song Thrush's have been predated at chick stage, another predated at egg/chick stage. Not all bad news though as another Song Thrush have just hatched, my other Blackbird still sits on 3 eggs, another Song Thrush sits on 4 eggs and another has well grown young which will hopefully fledge by the end of the week. To finish the morning on a positive the Wren nest I have in leafless honeysuckle could soon become a nest record - it was feeling rather soft inside today so I guess lining is being added.
The afternoon I decided to walk the stream through the woods as this type of habitat can provide excellent linear areas for nesting Wren and Robin. After 5 minutes of walking I left the path to join the stream and saw a Wren flush from bluebells. Knowing that Wren do not nest in bluebells it was time to check the nearest tree trunks and sure enough, there it was. Fantastic start but unfortunately it was the only one I found.
Not sure yet but tomorrow could be an all out assault on Wren nests, only 390 Wren nests submitted nationally in 2015
And the images -
newly hatched blind and naked Song Thrush
Song Thrush nest habitat (contents below, 4 eggs)
Song Thrush young not far away from fledging (with luck)
a mystery this one but certainly worth further investigation
A sequence of three images of the Wren nest found this afternoon
and finish off with a selection of images of the stream and an old Blackbird nest found in the bank
We too have had some predation - the tree creeper nest which was pretty much on the ground had been pulled out, the eggs on the ground - we presume another bird looking for nesting material? A blackbird which should have hatched last Sunday/Monday - nest completely empty, remains of the dead mother amongst lots of feathers on the footpath directly below. It was a really obvious nest, and she always flew off onto the path - so wonder if she did this as someone passed with a dog perhaps? Positives were lots of eggs in the boxes, and a chance find for Paul of a marsh tit nest. If we had not sat for 2 hours (in 2 sessions) for a Great Tit to come off we would not have found it - good things come to those who wait!
ReplyDeleteThanks for another informative blog post.