One for the bird watchers

[garjo]

We have a next box near the house, covered by virginia creeper. Anyway noticed about a month ago a wren going in the box regularly, then noticed another bird which now identified as coal tits going in the same box. This has been going on for last few weeks, which thought was strange. The frequency of visits increased when it became obvious there were chicks in the box. Initially thought there must be two nests - one in the box and another in the creeper. Tried looking for another next and could not find one. Got home last Thursday and found there were two chicks which had fledged from the nest box on the patio - both were clearly coal tits. After a couple of minutes waiting it was clear that they were being fed by the parents (coal tits) and also a wren. The wren was feeding the chicks along with the coal tits, at times it got aggressive towards the coal tit parents. This went on for an hour or so until dusk. Again in the morning the wren was there feeding the chicks. I never heard of this before – thought someone might know

 

 

 

 

 

[JDog]

I have never seen that behaviour but I am sure it will have been recorded before.

 

Did you know that a male Wren shows potential females several different nests which he has made in the spring? This may have caused some confusion to the Wrens of either sex which could explain why they are feeding Coal tit babies.

[lord_seagrave]

 

We have a next box near the house, covered by virginia creeper. Anyway noticed about a month ago a wren going in the box regularly, then noticed another bird which now identified as coal tits going in the same box. This has been going on for last few weeks, which thought was strange. The frequency of visits increased when it became obvious there were chicks in the box. Initially thought there must be two nests - one in the box and another in the creeper. Tried looking for another next and could not find one. Got home last Thursday and found there were two chicks which had fledged from the nest box on the patio - both were clearly coal tits. After a couple of minutes waiting it was clear that they were being fed by the parents (coal tits) and also a wren. The wren was feeding the chicks along with the coal tits, at times it got aggressive towards the coal tit parents. This went on for an hour or so until dusk. Again in the morning the wren was there feeding the chicks. I never heard of this before thought someone might know

 

 

 

 

 

This is fascinating. Proper Gilbert White-style nature journalism.

 

Get some pictures? Be really interesting to get an update as the fledglings grow.

 

LS

[norfolk dumpling]

We've got goldfinches nesting somewhere is our wisteria - I say ' somewhere' as we have looked several times and cannot see anything. We are not disturbing site but as this shrub has only flowers out and very few leaves you would expect nest to be visible but it's very cleavily disguised. Sat outside yesterday with a nice chilled 'white' and watched finches for 2-3hrs so we know where nest roughly is but cannot see it. Lots of flowers this year so they must have constructed nest in the middle of them. Looking forward to seeing chicks departure - this is a regular event and fascinating to hear/watch parents constant scolding/encouragement. Spotted flycatcher looking at same shrub now. I wonder where they flew in from - Africa?

[figgy]

As a child I watched a green finch build a nest in big tree on a small over hanging branch over a main road. The nest was perched on a branch as thick as your thumb and looked like a pipe bowl.

We used to stand and look at it but others couldn't see it. Watch where the birds go into your wisteria and listen for the chicks calling you should then be able to locate the nest.

[Gunman]

Had a Wren build three nests one on top of the other in a small fir tree in our garden third nest hatched chicks but unfortunately something raided the nest which was not well hidden so no baby Wrens

 

Not quite the same thing but eating a picnic sandwich in the grounds of a local Stately Home today we had the pleasure of a Chaffinch come on to the table to pick up crumbs as they are wont to do . What surprised us was when a Nuthatch flew down and took the bits of bread from under the Chaffinch's nose

[scolopax]

Saw a cock grey partridge escorting a hen Redleg and her small brood of young poults. Greys have extremely strong parenting instincts and no doubt he lost his own hen so became step dad to some frenchies. The Redleg had not necessarily lost her mate, they can double clutch, with both the cock and hen both incubating separate clutches and then also rearing the chicks separately. Been a long time since I have seen a wild Redleg though.

[bakerboy]

 

We have a next box near the house, covered by virginia creeper. Anyway noticed about a month ago a wren going in the box regularly, then noticed another bird which now identified as coal tits going in the same box. This has been going on for last few weeks, which thought was strange. The frequency of visits increased when it became obvious there were chicks in the box. Initially thought there must be two nests - one in the box and another in the creeper. Tried looking for another next and could not find one. Got home last Thursday and found there were two chicks which had fledged from the nest box on the patio - both were clearly coal tits. After a couple of minutes waiting it was clear that they were being fed by the parents (coal tits) and also a wren. The wren was feeding the chicks along with the coal tits, at times it got aggressive towards the coal tit parents. This went on for an hour or so until dusk. Again in the morning the wren was there feeding the chicks. I never heard of this before – thought someone might know

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Gary long time no hear, I hope you are well.