The sparrow nest box
Dear Readers, I put up my sparrow nesting box back in 2020, and it’s fair to say that the sparrows have shown absolutely no interest at all. The site was briefly inspected by a blue tit in 2021 (apologies for the high quality photo)…
but then, about six weeks ago I noticed a great tit popping in and out of the nest box on the left. Birds are usually very particular about the size of the entrance holes, and I guess that a great tit is almost the same size as a sparrow (ish). Anyhow, the great tit has continued to visit, and I am keeping everything crossed for a happy event or two. It’s not the best location, being right opposite the kitchen door, and the squirrels also use the climbing hydrangea as a motorway, so fingers crossed for a happy outcome.
All the disturbance re the shed hasn’t been exactly helpful for the wildlife, but hopefully everything will be done soon – the shed is due to be delivered in the next few days, followed by a skip and a massive clean-up operation, so soon I’ll be able to enjoy the garden again. Fingers crossed for that too!
I think I may have mentioned that we’ve had a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers visiting our feeders. There have also been a pair of Nuthatches. Well, a young Nuthatch decided to fly into our kitchen window and lay there stunned. My wife thought it must be dead, lying there with its beak open and eyes close. But she picked it up, felt a pulse and held the poor thing for 10 minutes while it recovered.
Its eyes opened and it seemed OK, so she opened her hands to let it go but it clung to her fingers and didn’t move for 3 or 4 minutes. We decided it was best to put it somewhere ‘safe’ (so that the dog didn’t get it, or a larger bird) and placed it on the feeder tray. And, thankfully, after another 10 minutes or so, it flew away.
It’s not often you get to see such a beautiful, albeit young, bird so close up. 👍👍😊