BLUE TITS (14) AND MAGPIE

Anna noticed the female Tit carrying in "white feathery material" into the box yesterday whilst I was at work. This would suggest she is beginning to line the nest with much softer material, now that the main structure must be complete!
Sure enough, a few minutes ago, we were both sat outside after a spot of (more) house decorating, and in she flew with more fluffy white stuff.
Whilst it does seem that both birds are getting slightly more used to us - we sit literally 12' from the box, it took her a while to build up enough confidence to enter the box whilst we were there.
I think this was the first time I've noticed BOTH birds enter the box with BOTH myself and Anna sat outside.
I think it may be important to get the birds used to us BEFORE she lays eggs and the chicks hatch - we wouldn't want them to be deserted because the adults hadn't got used to us by then.
Some might say just don't go and sit outside, give them some space. That might be ok for some people, but not me and Anna! We live for the outdoors - thats half the reason we moved!

Anyway, the female made a bit of a mess of the first load of white fluff she brought to the box, leaving a lot of it on our fence, and more actually in the nest box opening.
On closer inspection of the fluff, it seems like plant material - maybe downy dandelion seed material etc...

I'm typing this overlooking the box, and she's still coming in with this white fluffy plant material (almost like cotton wool) only. She is most certainly lining and finishing off the nest.

I'm told Blue Tits lay at the end of April generally, one egg per day, and up to 14 eggs,although there is much discussion whether they have one or two broods in a year.
We cannot look inside the box, so we will have to guess if/when she starts laying.
I am aware that she does NOT brood the eggs constantly though, so we will have to guess well! (FYI the eggs should take between 12 and 20 days to hatch).

[photo (c) Arthur Grosset.... again!]

One more thing.... we had a visit this morning from a VERY impressive-looking Magpie.
The bold nest-raider walked straight under the nest-box and peered up at it.
The chicks WILL be safe whilst they are in the box, but as soon as they take their first flight, I wouldn't really want that Magpie around!
This is all in the future though, no eggs have even been laid yet!