Team Blue

News from an Oxfordshire bird box

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Belinda still working on her nest…

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Belinda appears to have started some renovation works…

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We have a pair!

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Well, hello there!

Checking out the facilities?

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2025 is here!

Firstly, apologies - I ran out of steam last year because there were SO many videos I was struggling to choose between them and then writing the commentary and so on… life got too busy.

So - less pressure on myself this year. Will post videos, they may not be Definitely The Best Video the trip wire captured but they will be videos. I may or may not comment on them. That seems doable :)

You are most welcome to follow along and hopefully Barry and Beryl will have another successful nesting year!

[team-bluetit]

ESCAPING CHICK ESCAPADE!

I wanted to share the Absolute Drama of how one 12 hour-old chick who, clearly unaware that being naked, blind and practically still a foetus might be Disadvantages in the big wide world, decided he was ready to make a break for freedom!

We have named our little adventurer Scooter.

(Spoiler alert - there is a happy ending but watching it live was heart-in-mouth stuff!)

[team-bluetit]

Beryl had been building her nest for the last 24 hours… we on the other end of the camera were beginning to have some concerns about her methods and it seems we weren’t the only ones…

Beryl, my love? Beryl?

*from outside* what are you doing in there? Get out! Nest building is my business and I’ve spent hours sorting that out!

Oh, absolutely. I’m not interfering! I’m just… super interested in the art of nest-construction and had some… uh… questions?

Oh really, what questions?

Well, it’s just other nests I’ve seen have more… uh… nest… in them and…

Barry?

Yes, Beryl?

Get out Barry, I’m nesting here.

No problem! I’ll go get you another caterpillar, how about that?

If you like, just don’t interrupt my Process.

All good! You’re doing just great!

Ok… let’s see now… I spread it out then give the tail a little wiggle and… maybe I could move this bit over here. Perfect. Oh, oh I don’t think that piece… colour is all wrong. No, that’s got to go…

Hi Beryl! Oh you’re… you’re removing parts of the nest now?

DON’T QUESTION THE PROCESS, BARRY!

Yes Ma’am.

[team-bluetit]

After weeks of “Will they, won’t they?”

Beryl! Beryl come in here a minute, I have a surprise for you.

Alright Barry, what’ve you got there?

I have brought you a caterpillar!

A caterpillar? I do like those.

It’s not just any caterpillar! This one shows how I am a provider of… uh, caterpillars and… stuff. And it definitely proves I would be a great daddy…

Hmm. Ok let me sample it… Barry? Barry!

Yeah?

Barry you have to let go of the caterpillar!

Um… but it’s tasty…

BARRY!!

Sigh… ok. Because I love you and am excellent daddy material.

*leaves to find another caterpillar*

*munches caterpillar* Ah he’s alright really.

*does a little wiggle dance to check out the wing-room* And he’s found us a decent place to set up home… ok… OK.

*flies to entrance*

HEY BARRY? BARRY! It’s a Yes from me!

[team-bluetit]

Ok… let’s see what we’ve got here... just…need to… wiggle through the hole and… whoops!

Alright nice little perch here… natural light… ooh! Walls! Err one-two-three-four-five-four err, ok plenty of those. Good good.

Huh, what’s with the hole in the floor? Oh, drainage! Yeah that’s good. Need that. Hmm… *tap tap* ok that’s wood. Yep. Definitely wood.

Barry! You’re needed!

Ok ok, just gotta take another look at this window. Yeah, I like that.

Alright Beryl, I’m coming!