General Chat

We have two - but both are on the house! Nest boxes so far have ignored for first time. Blackbird is nesting in the honeysuckle growing up front of house. OH has put off having path relaid in case hammer drill frightened her off! Again front of house and above porch, blue tits have squeezed under an overhanging tile!

Next door had an extension some years ago and where old pipes were - have not been filled in - for 6 years two of these pipe holes have been used by tits!

Hopefully in a couple of weeks the Swifts should return. They usually use two nest sites in our house.

Well we have had for a few years doves nesting in almond tree - however we had to have it pollarded last winter so I wonder???

There are tree's all over my Garden and so many nests, one blackbird nest is quite out in the open, being built on the climbing Hydrangea that is climbing the wall, I hope a cat does not get in and cause trouble.

We have quite a few,a Robin has made a nest in a tree on my patio,Black birds have made a few in the hedges.
And the Oak tree at the top of the garden we have Rock Doves and we have had a woodpecker nest last year but we have a magpie problem and they seem to chase the other birds off and destroy their nests.

None that I know of for small birds, although there has been alot of activity in and out of a particular bush. I haven't actually done a visual check.

Seagulls are still deciding I think, but we've had the flat roof resurfaced since their nesting last year, so I'm not sure if it meets their requirements, - hopefully not as they are so territorial about guarding it.

Trouble is, I think they've realised I'm a soft touch and as much as I wish they would stick to natural cliffs rather than our house, the word has been passed between them that I will return fallen babies to the nest.
1 lot the first year, then 2 seperate times to the same nest in the following year.
They all survived.

Gwyn

Last year, in a little copse of trees behind my garden, I watched as two magpies started to make a nest. Then I was away for a few days, but they were still at it when I got back. They carried on, and eventually, they put a 'lid' on it, actually making quite a large nest which was spherical.
They have stayed with the nest, and have been reinforcing it this year.
I am not very 'up' on birds, but would love to know more about this. Do they mate for life.
On the otherhand, I have a little bird, possibly a linnet or a jenny wren, nesting in one of my hanging baskets. As much as I love my garden, I would do nothing to disturbe them.

Julia in Derbyshire

Went to visit in-laws in Hampshire yesterday and just a few feet away from their back door, on a high shelf facing the house is a nest with at least 3 babies in. Their fluffy little heads bobbed up in expectation of Mummy and Daddy robin flying home with something tasty. The parents didn't seem to mind at all that there were 10 of us milling about, although we did try to stay away from the flight path as much as possible.
I hope they all survive.

Gwyn

At the stable yard were I keep my horse, the stables are inside a big barn and we have loads od swifts and swallows nesting in the roof space on ledges. They come back every year to the same nests. It gets very noisey in there, it's like an avairy.

x

The swifts are nesting here again. I can hear the occasional movement above the ceiling as I type this. I wish I could have fitted one of those cameras to watch them.
Ken

Quite a few nest blackbirds they. have made one on a box attached to our wall. end of our bungalow .its only 3ft off the ground .they usualy nest in the bushes out of sight ? . we have a black & white cat always in our garden . hope it keeps away . & leaves the birds alone ?? Barbra

As you will see, i told everyone about the Blackbird nest in my garden, well I found one of the Blackbirds dead and half eaten by a cat yesterday morning, and the other Blackbird is nowhere to be seen and two eggs are laying on the ground, its very sad

Over my back wall there is a field and normally the Pheasants nest in the copse alongside, but this year... well last week we found a hen Pheasant sitting quite openly in the field on her eggs !!

At least she's not parked in the crops or she would get the chop !!, just along side.

So I have a bird eye view of little ones soon ... :-)
.
Also got tits in my box...I can hear them ,mother tit constantly feeding them with worms.
Isn't lovely to nature so close.

Marilyn....

Read your post. nature can be wonderfull .tragic as well .sorry about your blackbirds Barbra .

Thanks Barbra, but I guess cats chasing birds is nature too, but the bad side of nature

Agatha.

The Skylarks usually steal blackbirds eggs .

My friend have them every year nesting and every year the Skylarks come and destroy the eggs.

So may not be cats ....


Marilyn ...

But the poor Blackbird was decapitated, and half eaten

Ohhh ....... YES that a Cat .......

We have swallows which come back every year!!
We also have a bird box which has a small video camera in it which is connected up to our TV, we have blue tits in there, It looks like there are 5 babies, its great to watch them, it even has sound and the racket they make when mum and dad are popping in and out with food is astonishing!!!

Julia (in Cambs)

We have got swallows nesting again underneath the shed roof .saw two this morning flying about . & going in & out of nest . .we can see from our kitchen window ... there seems to be a lot more birds this yr in the garden .does anyone do the survey & the one hr count for the RSpB there is one in june .you can do it on line.. julia. you are lucky to have a camera trouble is if i had one wouldnt get anything done .would be watching .the birds antics :-) Barbra ~~~~~~to Chris