Blue Tit

[ladygardener]

As some of you may know I've been working for about 6 months now to get birds to visit my garden. I have 2 little blue tits who are now frequent visitors and today I managed to get a pic through the sitting room window. They've only lately stayed for more than a few seconds at a time. I think they're getting used to me and the garden now and like the rose bush which I've placed over near the new table. I hope you like the little pics.

[maggyd]

They are lovely to have in the garden LadyG I have a pair nesting in my box and every day without fail the little female lands on my door handle and chirps her head off. I see you have plenty of food out for them and it is important even though they are eating the green fly the little male once he has to keep feeding the female loses a lot of weight.

[ladygardener]

:smileYes I've seen your little guy Maggie, he's so lovely. I can't tell you how pleased I am to have them come visit. Can't they make a lot of noise for such small birds.

[maggyd]

I love to hear the birds singing if I bring my washing in or take ted outside I just sit and listen for ages I find it very soothing.

[ladygardener]

I'm the same Maggie, I often get up and hear the dawn chorus and I love listening to the blackbird across the way in the disused factory. They have such a wonderful song do blackbirds and seem to sit and sing at all hours of the day and evening.

[bogmyrtle]

Aren't they sweet? I love having the birds visiting our garden.

The singing of the blackbird stems from the days when there was much more woodland and they sang to attract a mate and stake their territory, as they were in woodland they sang loudly and for a long time. Now of course they come to our gardens but still sing, thank goodness.

[ladygardener]

Yes that makes sense BM. The one who visits me has a nest over the way by the disused factory somewhere in the trees/bushes. He sits on the highest point and sings his heart out.

[jennywren]

I have a blackbird nest nearby = the parents sit on my roof with beaks full of goodies staring at me waiting for me to look away so they can go visit the nest

I cant think where it will be

Have you seen any baby bluetits - they are so gorgeous - just a huge ball of fluffy yellow/green

[ladygardener]

Hi JW, nope I've not seen any babies they must be really tiny as the bluetits themselves are so small. We did last year have Magpies nesting across the way and I saw their bablies learning how to fly, not very small 'tho and what a racket they make.

[ladygardener]

I managed to get this pic through the window today. 2 for the price of 1.

[bogmyrtle]

Excellent photograph LG and taken through a window, well done, how do you do it, mine are terrible when I try. You all have the knack with photographs.

[ladygardener]

Thank you very much BM, I think it's just luck really. They're a joy to watch.

[maggyd]

Apr 22, 2009 8:49:55 GMT 1 ladygardener said:

Hi JW, nope I've not seen any babies they must be really tiny as the bluetits themselves are so small. We did last year have Magpies nesting across the way and I saw their bablies learning how to fly, not very small 'tho and what a racket they make.

Oh you dont want magpies near by they take the baby blue tits given a chance!!

[maggyd]

It,ll be a while before you see any babies I dont know if she has laid them yet!! if she had she would be sat on the nest wouldnt she? mine seems to be flittin about all day ! last year I picked a baby up off the back path and put it in the bird table in case Teddy got it! I think it managed to fly from there.

[jennywren]

I saw a HUUUUUUUUUGE baby blackbird in my tree yesterday - it was young enough not to fly away immediately as wasnt sure what I was

Your bird table Lady is the birdie equiq of The Ivy

[ladygardener]

praise indeed JW, the birds seem to agree, they come back for more anyhow. How lovely for you to see the baby blackbird. No sign of the magpie nesting there this year Maggie but we do see them from time to time.

[bogmyrtle]

I spotted two blue tits on the side of the house yesterday, first thought was that they were after insects, then one disappeared - they are nesting in the cavity! There is a small hole high up that the builders didn't fill when they removed the scaffold pole. Both were flying in and out and they weren't carrying nesting material so presume there are babies and they are feeding them, I do hope so.

[Biggles]

I have just seen a Blue Tit on the climbing rose tree -pecking the foliage which I think must have greenfly on it. It hopped around for ages-and then returned for more. No sign of a nest anywhere though.

[maggyd]

How lovely to know that the bluetits can make homes anywhere if there are no boxes Ive never heard of that before B.M. and Biggs they do keep the greenfly down that is why I wont spray with anything I watch them pecking away at my cherry tree,s ! mind the little blighters were on my wisteria this morning! but its all in a good cause feeding their young! I also noticed a starling picking at something I thought he was pulling my leeks up but when I looked it was the plants pots he wa picking at I must have loads of greenfly I darent look.

[bogmyrtle]

There is a thick ivy on the fence on our side not far from where they are Maggy and birds have nested in there before but I wonder if they were disturbed by Poppy or one of the other cats Plentiful supply of insects in there though. They must have viewed the hole and thought we will be safe there!