Nest Box Diary 2011

A Great Tit has nested in one of our nest boxes fitted with a camera. Their progress is given below; unfortunately, Easter holidays prevented me from following part of the nesting attempt...

14th April - Yesterday, it was empty, but not today!	15th April - Nest building continues apace with dried grass and moss
16th April - Hair is now being added to the nest	27th April - First egg was laid on 22nd April, now there are six
28th April - Seven eggs	29th April - Eight eggs
30th April - Incubating has started	30th April - All 8 eggs visible while female goes for comfort break
1st May - Nine eggs!	2nd-11th May - Female incubating eggs
12th May - By late afternoon, 6 eggs have hatched	13th May - At least 8 chicks, so 1 egg remaining
14th May - Growing before our eyes	15th May - Feather tracts already darkening
16th May - Feather tracts even more obvious now	17th May - Wing feathers are clearly visible
18th May - Increasingly restless and stretching wings	19th May - Primary feather growth is very clear
20th May - Feathers are growing fast	21st May - One or two have their eyes open
27th May - After a few days' absence the change is remarkable	28th May - Eight feisty youngsters
28th May - Quickly became 7 as one fledged before noon	28th May - The female returns with food
31st May - Early morning, still 7 youngsters	31st May - By evening, there were just 5 left
1st June - Three had fledged before 5AM, leaving these two	1st June - At 7:10AM, all gone. Success!