As it's nearly that time I suppose it's time to start a new Thread for the Upcoming season.
For 2020 thread click HERE
Richard B
12 July
What a mess the spider got us in overnight:
No-one seen on a wet morning until CJ7 brought in a possible root-clump - she didn't stay long.
Next seen bringing in more dried stuff:
With 022 literally on her tail - she wasn't unwilling but it just didn't get anywhere:
She flew first, he pottered and flew @ 12:44.
Rain rain rain.
She dropped down from the campost @ 17:07 and waited, and got a mere snack for her trouble:
No wonder she took so long to see and retrieve it from him:
Well, well, well! Another fishtail:
5 minutes later, after both standing around:
He flew @ 20:37.
Late in the evening the Nightjar turned up - it was on 'n off the perch many times over less than 15 minutes, sometimes vocalising, sometimes not:
IMAGICAT
13 July
Soon after the Nightjar's visit the spider got to work, and soon got us into another fine mess, Stanley:
It developed into this and remained stable until daycam overtook it @ 04:31:
04:49 - 022 arrived, stood around until
He flew @ 04:54.
They were both very active on the nest this morning.
Mating:
Excerpts from messy nestorising sessions, quite interesting and CJ7 gets possibly more than half a fish from 022:
13 July cont'd
022 was on the nest about 3 times in the evening up to 19:41.
Nightjar paid an "early" visit, then the spider took over:
14 July
No-one seen on the nest this morning but someone was on the campost 04:30-04:45.
CJ7 was on 'n off the nest from 07:45 onwards:
11:09 022 arrived with customary piece of fish:
10 minutes later CJ7 arrived but some distraction prevented her from taking the fish:
She startled him, suddenly flying past him and away to the left:
A minute later he flew away with the fish.
12:30 he was back - with the fish, dear little lamb:
This post box has gone on strike again, I'll have to post and then edit in the punch line
EDIT
Total lack of positivity from CJ7:
And she flew off sans fish again!
But she dropped in a couple of minutes later with a tiny clump in her talons
He flew off, leaving the fish piece at the back of the nest, and she picked it up and flew. It was extremely difficult to make out this is the best proof, believe it or not:
CJ7 had just eaten her own fish this morning, hence the lack of interest in 022's!
Edit: ...but she did take the tail at about 12.52 after 022 left it on the nest.
Unknown said:
In my snap, you should be able to see the fishtail poking down from under CJ7's tail, along with a spindly stick she picked up by accident.
Glad to hear that CJ7 is feeding herself, I was getting quite concerned about her condition if she relied on 022's offerings. Thanks for the inside info, Alison
15 July
(Actually this is the 14th still.)
Spider is so productive!
This morning:
An early start!
And again!
Am suddenly having trouble navigating. They've been netorising.
She flew then he flew.
She was back twice tussling with the awful dried gorsy stuff:
Then I nearly missed this fish, - well beheaded but no perfect view, he came down from the campost with it:
After she'd flown he had a go at the gorsy stuff and left.
That's up to about 12:50.
G'night.