Bluetits

Is it just me or does it seem like there are Bluetits everywhere at the moment? During my short walk to work all I can here is Bluetits "laughing" (i think that's what their call sounds like).   I have a Magnolia tree in my front gardens with four sunflower heart feeders, one peanut feeder and two fatball feeders and they are inundated with all sorts of birds but the bluetits seem to be very numerous right now. On friday I counted 8 babies being fed by their parents and what is amazing (especially with our local sparrowhawk) I counted 8 again today! I just can't keep up with the fatballs!! Even while I'm filling up the feeders the bluetits are in the tree with me and don't seem at all phased by me being there. What a privilege to get so close.

Ladybird

Why is there never enough time?

  • How lovely. I do have some bluetits visiting my fatballs and feeders but never eight at once, it is so great to hear they are thriving in your area. It must be fantastic to get so near to them.

    I am innudated with siskins and great tits this year. I counted 10 juvenile siskins on the feeder outside my window and there were probably more at the feeding centre at the bottom of the garden.

    Kind regards Jane.

  • Ooooo. I'm jealous. I'd love to see ANY siskins never mind young ones!! We only had 2 siskins here through the winter but the year before had quite a group, but again only in the winter.

    I live in a small town right next to a main road, but because of the railway line nearby and allotments at the back of our house I seem to have more birds than my mum who lives in a village. I live in the town as it's close to work so that I don't need to use the car much, but the sheer amount of birds here has been a total revelation and SUCH a bonus. I'm seriously in danger of boring everyone I talk to about "my" birds but they are such a joy I can't help it!!!

    Ladybird

     

    Why is there never enough time?

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous 15/06/2010 04:51 in reply to ladybird

    Hi ladybird

    I too have loads of bluetits whizzing round the garden and 'laughing' away.

    They all disappeared to nest and breed but are all back now. They are feisty little birds and are the only ones who are not fazed by our bossy blackbirds.

    Have you seen some of the wonderful photos of blue tits on this forum? Look especially on the 'Show us your babies' thread in the 'Wildlife in the Garden' forum

    Pipit

  • No! I haven't seen the pics. I'll have a look now. Thanks for the tip off.

    cheers

    Ladybird

    p.s. I can't decide if it's a good thing that they don't seem to be scared of much........................

    Why is there never enough time?

  • Now I am getting really miffed and jealous!!!! LOL and big hugs.

    Everyone in the world has blue tits except me. I still have Bluey the rooster in his bachelor pad over night, but nothing else. He hasn't even brought his babies, the ungrateful little beggar. I have had a wonderful great tit family today, mum and 5 babies, which is a brilliant first in my garden, but blue tits avoid me.

    Cheers, Linda.

    See my photos on Flickr

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous 15/06/2010 06:07 in reply to Sparrow

    I'll swap some of my blue tits for some of your sparrows, Sparrow.

    I get Great Tits too but no Coal Tits. I really love those little fellas.

    Pip x

  • Unknown said:
    I'll swap some of my blue tits for some of your sparrows, Sparrow

    Mmmmmm ... that's a hard one. However, I do have in the region of 40 sparrows at the moment, so maybe I could spare a few. You can have Randy Andy and a few others. I know they would be going to a good home!

     

    Cheers, Linda.

    See my photos on Flickr

  • Great news and certainly there are lots of young blue and great tits, being very noisy, here at the Lodge.  In Wildlife enquiries we deal with lots of calls and emails from folk reporting the highs and lows of the breeding season.  This isn't at all scientific but I get the feeling that blue tits in particular have had a fairly successful time this year.   We seem to have had far fewer reports of whole clutches of young dying in nestboxes.  This is always distressing to hear about and is generally caused by lack of food and cold, wet weather when the adults struggle to fill lots of tiny beaks.  So, fingers crossed, they have fared better this year and let's hope other birds have too. 

    Watch out for swifts

  • That is great to hear, lets hope they have fared well this year. It will be interesting to see if any difference is apparent from the big garden birdwatch this year and next.

    Thanks for letting us know.

    Kind regards Jane.